Beauty Salon Risk Assessment: What to Include, With Examples

By Sam Blake, The Safer Salon Geek, a health and safety specialist for salons and spas with over 30 years in the beauty industry. Visit Sam's profile.

Quick answer: A beauty salon risk assessment identifies what could cause harm in your salon, who could be hurt, and what you do to prevent it. In the UK, every employer and every self-employed professional who treats clients must assess risks. Businesses with five or more employees must write down the significant findings, and every business must keep a written fire risk assessment.

This guide is based on UK health and safety law. Other countries have similar rules, so check your local requirements.

Why risk assessment matters

Safety might not be as exciting as a new product launch, but it is one of the foundations of any professional beauty business. I have worked in both beauty and compliance for many years, and a clear risk assessment protects your clients, your team, your reputation and your peace of mind.

Every treatment carries some risk. We work with chemicals, electrical equipment, hot wax, sharps and skin, often in close contact with clients. Planning ahead means you can show you have done everything reasonable to keep people safe, and insurers look for that too.

Does the law apply if you work alone?

Yes, if you treat clients. Since 2015, self-employed people in Great Britain are only exempt from health and safety law when their work poses no risk to anyone else. Hands-on treatments involve clients, so the law still applies, whether you work from a salon, a rented room, your home or as a mobile professional.

The five steps to a salon risk assessment

1. Identify the hazards. Walk around your space and think about how you work. What could cause harm?
2. Decide who might be harmed and how. Think about your team, clients, models, visitors and even delivery drivers.
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on controls. Consider how likely harm is and how serious it would be, then decide how to prevent or reduce it, for example through safe storage, training, gloves or a better layout.
4. Record your findings. This is a legal requirement for five or more employees, and good practice for everyone, because a written record is your evidence if something goes wrong.
5. Review regularly. Update your assessment at least once a year, and whenever you add a new treatment, product, piece of equipment or team member.

Common hazards in a salon

• Chemicals: colours, bleaches, acetone, nail products, peels and cleaning products
• Skin: dermatitis from frequent wet work and contact with products
• Electrical: hairdryers, straighteners, wax heaters, lamps and devices
• Slips and trips: wet floors, hair clippings and trailing cables
• Heat: hot wax, tongs and hot towels
• Sharps: needles, blades and lancets
• Infection control: tools, towels and treatment surfaces
• Fire: aerosols, flammable products and overloaded sockets
• Manual handling and posture: long hours standing or leaning over clients

COSHH: products and chemicals

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, you need to assess the products you use that could cause harm. Check each product's safety data sheet, store products as directed, keep the room well ventilated and wear the right gloves. Nitrile gloves are recommended in place of latex. Watch for early signs of dermatitis on your hands and your team's.

This is not a small risk. A 2022 review in the journal Contact Dermatitis, reported here, found that 28.6% of hairdressers who were patch tested were allergic to PPD, a common hair dye ingredient, compared with 4.3% of other patients. It also cited research showing that up to 70% of hairdressers develop work related skin damage, mostly on their hands, at some point in their careers. Gloves, good ventilation and regular hand checks belong in every salon risk assessment.

Fire safety

The person responsible for the premises must carry out a fire risk assessment. Since 1 October 2023, every business must record its fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full, whatever its size. If you rent a room or chair, check who is responsible for the building and make sure your own part of the space is covered.

Example: aerosol storage and fire risk

Aerosols are in almost every salon and kit bag, from hairspray to cleaning sprays. The label says to store them somewhere cool, but they often end up on sunny windowsills or in hot cars. An aerosol holds liquid and gas under pressure, and heat raises that pressure until the can can burst. It does not take extreme heat, just time.

Here is how that looks in a risk assessment:

• Hazard: aerosol cans stored near heat or in direct sunlight
• Who could be harmed: you, your team and clients nearby
• Control: store aerosols in a cool cupboard away from heat sources and sunlight, and never leave them in a hot car
• Review: check storage areas during your weekly clean

Small actions like this prevent big problems.

Building a culture of safety

Risk assessment is more than ticking boxes. When safe habits are part of your everyday routine, clients notice. They feel reassured, insurers see a business that takes safety seriously, and you work with more confidence.

FAQs

Does a beauty salon need a risk assessment?

Yes. Every employer, and every self-employed professional who treats clients, must assess the risks in their work.

Does a risk assessment need to be written down?

If you have five or more employees, yes. Your fire risk assessment must be written down whatever your size, and a written record is good practice for everyone.

Do barber shops need a risk assessment?

Yes. The same rules apply to barbers, hairdressers, nail technicians and every treatment room.

What are the main hazards in a salon?

Chemicals, skin conditions such as dermatitis, electrical equipment, slips and trips, heat, sharps, infection and fire.

How often should I review my risk assessment?

At least once a year, and whenever you add new treatments, equipment, products or team members.