Occupational Health, Safety and Hygiene in the Salon
What this domain tests
This section examines salon hazards, infection control and the duty to protect clients, staff and the public. Questions cover cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation, hand hygiene, chemical handling, electrical and fire safety, waste disposal and ergonomics.
Core rules
- Cleaning removes visible soil; disinfection kills most pathogens on surfaces; sterilisation destroys all micro-organisms, including spores, and is used for metal implements that may penetrate skin.
- Break the infection chain at source, route or host. Wear gloves for blood and body fluids and wash hands before and after every client.
- Keep chemicals labelled, ventilated and away from heat. Never decant into drink bottles; read the safety data sheet before use.
- Check plugs, cords and residual current devices; keep water away from sockets. Know extinguisher classes: water for paper/wood, CO2 for electrical, damp blanket for people.
- Use sharps containers for blades and needles; never overfill. Adjust chair and trolley height to protect your back.
Worked example
A clipper blade cuts a client and blood is visible. Reasoning: stop, put on gloves, remove visible soil with a disposable towel, then clean and disinfect with a hospital-grade disinfectant effective against bloodborne viruses; if the blade is autoclavable, sterilise it. A quick alcohol wipe is not enough because blood, not just surface bacteria, is present.
Traps
Do not call a UV cabinet a steriliser; do not store tools in disinfectant overnight; do not skip pre-cleaning before disinfection; do not use a towel warmer for sterilisation; do not ignore a chemical splash in the eye.