Health, safety, hygiene and infection control
Domain 4 tests how you break the chain of infection and keep the salon safe. You need to distinguish cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation, select the right method for each tool, manage waste and apply COSHH and basic salon safety.
Chain of infection and standard precautions
- The chain requires an infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host.
- Wash hands with soap and water when visibly soiled; alcohol gel is not reliable against spores or norovirus.
- Wear gloves, apron and eye protection where splashing is possible; cover cuts; never double-dip wax or product.
- Use single-use spatulas, files and applicators; do not share mascara wands or brushes without decontamination.
Decontamination levels
- Cleaning removes organic matter and visible soil; it must happen before disinfection or sterilisation.
- Disinfection reduces pathogens but may not destroy spores; follow contact time and dilution.
- Sterilisation destroys all micro-organisms including spores; autoclave at 134°C for about 3 minutes or 121°C for about 15 minutes.
- UV cabinets are for storage or low-level disinfection, not sterilisation.
- Metal tools can be autoclaved; porous items, files and buffers are usually single-use; brushes are cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer instructions.
Waste and salon safety
- Separate sharps, clinical waste and general waste; use a spill kit for blood and body fluids.
- For a blood spill, wear PPE, absorb the spill and disinfect with about 10,000 ppm available chlorine, then dispose of waste correctly.
- Record accidents; report reportable incidents under RIDDOR.
- Maintain electrical safety and PAT testing, fire exits, ventilation, manual handling and slip controls.
Worked example
During a pedicure, a client's cuticle bleeds. The therapist stops, puts on fresh gloves, covers the area, cleans and disinfects the workstation, and disposes of contaminated items as clinical waste. The file is discarded because it is porous; metal nippers are cleaned and autoclaved. The incident and advice are recorded. The reasoning is standard precautions plus correct waste segregation.
Traps that cost marks
- Calling a UV cabinet a steriliser.
- Using alcohol gel on visibly soiled hands.
- Double-dipping wax or reusing a file between clients.
- Skipping cleaning before disinfection.
- Assuming an autoclave is effective without validation and correct loading.