Health and Safety

Hazards and Risks

A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm and to reduce the likelihood is carrying out risk assessments. To do this you would identify the hazard, determine the level of risk and then put in place preventative measures to reduce a potentially harmful situation. Risk assessments are important not only because they are a legal requirement but it also results in a safe environment.

Potential hazards that would require regular risk assessments in the college classroom:

Space – utilisation, working areas, heating, lighting, ventilation
Chemicals – storage, handling, safe usage, safe disposal
Equipment – safe usage, handling, repairs, maintenance
Emergency procedures – accidents, first aid, fire evacuation incidents

Health and Safety Regulations and Legislation

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE) – Main requirement is that personal protective equipment is to be supplied and use at work wherever there are risks to health and safety than cannot be adequately controlled in other ways
The Electricity at Work Regulations – Concerned with general safety of the use of electricity. For example, all electrical equipment must be regularly checked for safety.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) – Requires the control of exposure to hazardous substances. While most products used are safe, some products could become hazardous under certain conditions or if used inappropriately.
The Fire Precautions Act – By law all premises must undertake a fire risk assessment.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations – These cover the recording and reporting of any serious accident and conditions to the local environmental health officer. If you’re a mobile Makeup Artist in someone’s home and you have an accident yourself or injure the client – it must be reported.

Insurance

Employers’ liability insurance as a result of the Employers’ Liability Insurance (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 – Employers and self-employed people musty by law hold this. This will reimburse them against any legal liability to pay compensation. This covers bodily injury, illness or disease. This is important because a legal claim could result in very large financial losses and public prosecution results in a heavy fine for those not having this essential insurance cover.
Public Liability Insurance – Not compulsory but is advisable as it protects you should a member of the public be injured on the premises.. If this results in the client not being able to work for a long period of time, the client can seek legal advice and sue for compensation.
Product Liability Insurance – Covers the cost of compensating anyone who is injured by a faulty product that your business designs, manufactures or supplies.

Health and Safety Considerations when applying Makeup: or doing Hair

Work Area- Clean up spillages, report slippery surfaces, remove or report obstacles, sterilise/disinfect work surfaces, height adjustable chair, correct posture, lighting, ventilation, noise, music, temperature, no trailing wires, privacy of work area, natural or artificial light, if working outside then protection from direct sunlight, wing and rain
Personnel – May wish to wear personal protective equipment
Client – If using towels they should be clean for every client, protect client’s clothing, ensuring client positioned correctly and comfortable, respect privacy and modesty
Controlling substances hazardous to health – Replace lids, ventilation for vapour and dust, avoid overexposure to chemicals, correct use of chemicals, follow storage instructions, correct disposal of contaminated waste produces in a closed top bin, no smoking, eating or drinking
Equipment – Only used for intended purpose, safe usage, handling, storage, cleaning lifting, visual checks, repairs and maintenance

Hygiene:

Make sure tools are sterilised and sanitised and the work surface has been disinfected
Cover cuts and abrasions with plasters
Sanitise your hands before and after makeup application
Clean towels between clients
Dispense products with a spatula, pump or spray
Use disposables wherever possible
Personal hygiene
May wish to use heat or chemical methods to disinfect from bactericides, fungicides and viricides

Skin Sensitivity and Conta-Indications

24-48 hours before treatment you want to do a skin sensitivity test. This mean cleansing the area either on the crook of the elbow or behind the ear and applying a small amount of each product to the area with a cotton bud and allowing to dry. You would then leave this on for a minimum of 24 hours. Then you record results of the test - this includes all the products uses and where on the body they are places.
When interpreting results if the skin is red, itchy, irritated, swelling or sore they have had a positive reactive. If there is no change to the skin then it is a negative reaction.
This test is important to prevent an allergic reaction. Without it, it can cause the invalidation of insurance policy if not carried out.
Examples of possible contra-indications that may prevent the treatment include – skin disorders such as bacterial (impetigo), viral (herpes simplex), fungal (tinea), systemic medical conditions, conjunctivitis, severe skin conditions, eye infections, boils, wards, parasitic infections, severe bruising, undiagnosed lumps or sunburn.
Examples of possible contra-indication that may restrict, but not prevent, treatment – respiratory problems, skin allergies, cuts, abrasions, bruising, styes, claustrophobia, facial piercing, minor eczema or sunburn.

Contra-actions

A contra action is something that may go wrong during a treatment, or something that can stop the makeup treatment being carried out. For example a client may have an allergic reaction half way through their makeup. Some more examples of contra actions are:

The client’s skin is sensitive and erythema occurs during the makeup.
An allergic reaction occurs.
The client does not like having products near his or her eyes and flinches when the artist attempts to apply product.
The client failed to mention a previous contra indication or what not aware they had one. That is noticed during the treatment, for example an eye infection.
A rash occurs.
The client’s eyes begin to water and smudge make up application.
If a contra action occurs a cold compress must be applied or the product removed. Stop make up application.