Hygiene, Safety and Workplace Practice
Infection Control Basics
Candidates must know the chain of infection and where to break it. Learn the difference between cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation: cleaning removes soil, disinfection reduces pathogens on surfaces and tools, and sterilisation destroys all microorganisms and is required for items that penetrate skin. Know which tools are single-use, which are disinfected between clients, and which require sterilisation.
Hand Hygiene and Personal Practice
Expect questions on hand washing technique and timing, the use of gloves, covering cuts, keeping nails short, and excluding staff with infectious conditions from client contact. Personal hygiene, clean uniform and tied-back hair are professional requirements, not preferences.
Salon Safety
Learn safe handling of chemicals, correct dilution, ventilation, storage away from heat, and labelling of decanted products. Know electrical safety, cable checks, and the rule against using equipment near water. Know fire exits, extinguisher types and accident reporting. Understand patch testing, consent, and the correct response to a reaction: stop, assist, record, report.
Traps and Worked Example
Traps include calling disinfection sterilisation, reusing single-use items, and skipping records after an incident. Worked example: a metal extractor is dropped on the floor. Correct reasoning: clean it, then disinfect it with a suitable agent for the required contact time before reuse. Rule of thumb: if an item breaks the skin or touches bodily fluid, it needs the highest level of control available in the salon.