The standard sections of cover a Salon Insurance Policy are designed to cater for the majority of your insurance needs. A standard Salon Insurance package typically includes:
- Property at the premises – buildings or tenant’s improvements, contents, machinery, stock and electronic equipment.
- Money.
- Business Interruption (also known as loss of profit).
- Goods in Transit by own vehicle and courier.
- Property Away from the Insured Premises, e.g., electronic equipment
- General Liability Insurance – Employer’s Liability, Public and Products Liability.
- Optional sections may include Legal Expenses, Personal Accident, Terrorism, Cyber, Employee Crime, etc.
- Some Salon Insurance packages also include limited treatment/medical malpractice risks.
Taking out Salon Insurance is important because there are many hazards present at a beauty salon that deserve your attention. Use this guide as a starting point for conducting a risk assessment at your facility to correct potential hazards and keep your employees safe.
The Security at the premises is of interest to the insurer and Minimum Security Requirements of a typical Salon Insurance include five lever mortice deadlocks on all entrance and exit doors and key operated window locks on all accessible windows. If the sums insured are higher, an intruder alarm system, monitored by a special third party firm will be required. Other security measures, such as, CCTV, anchored safes, bars and shutters on doors and windows, are also good security measures and may be required by insurers depending upon the salon’s location, your claims history and sums insured at risk.
Insurers require an up-to-date Electrical Installation Condition Report issued by a registered commercial electrician and also a note of the firm’s Employment Reference Number (ERN) in relation to the Employer’s Liability Tracing Office regulation.
Liability risks that impact a typical Salon or Clinic may include the following hazards:
HAZARD: Slips, Trips and Falls
Accidents can occur when employees or customers trip on uneven flooring or fall when trying to reach items out of reach.
Solutions:
- Unplug equipment when not in use.
- Keep walkways, workstations and chairs clear.
- Clean up spills immediately after they occur.
- Provide adequate lighting.
- Provide proper stepladders for employees to reach items that are not accessible from the ground.
HAZARD: Fire
Many products used in beauty treatments, specifically aerosols, are highly flammable and potentially explosive, if exposed to high temperatures. Also, obstructed exit routes can prevent escape from a fire and can provide fuel to increase the blaze.
Solutions:
- Keep all escape routes and fire exits clear at all times. Conduct regular inspections of these areas to assure that they are safe.
- Store products away from sources of heat and ignition, at or below room temperature, and in a dry place.
- Turn off and unplug electrical devices at night.
- Instruct employees on what to do in case of a fire and practise fire escape drills on a regular basis.
HAZARD: Electrical Safety
The electrical appliances used in beauty salons are subject to significant wear due to their frequency and amount of use.
Solutions:
- Create a system of regularly inspecting equipment for wear and do not allow equipment to be used until it is repaired.
- Keep a maintenance log for all electrical equipment.
- Provide adequate sockets for all workstations. Instruct your employees to not overload sockets.
HAZARD: Hazardous Substances
Some products used in salons contain harmful substances, which can cause skin irritations (dermatitis) and respiratory problems.
Solutions:
- Obtain and maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous products used on your premises.
- Assess the risks of using new products before they are initially used.
- Store and use all products in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Exercise extreme caution when disposing of surplus chemicals.
- If employees show signs of dermatitis or asthma, assist them in receiving proper medical treatment and offer solutions to minimise reoccurrence, such as, improving ventilation problems and making sure employees wear hand and body protection against hazardous chemicals.
HAZARD: Manual Handling of Materials
Lifting and moving heavy materials and working at poorly designed workstations can cause injuries and muscle strains.
Solutions:
- Employees should avoid lifting items that are too heavy for them to safely lift. They should use lifting assist devices or seek assistance from another staff member instead.
- Train employees on the proper lifting techniques for various types and sizes of loads.
- Design workstations to ensure that employees have enough room to move around comfortably while working. Provide customer chairs that can be adjusted depending on the height of the customer and employee.
HAZARD: Poor Hygiene
There are risks of infection transmission when using equipment and products on clients with poor hygiene or transmittable illnesses.
Solutions:
- Make sure re-useable equipment is sterilised after each client.
- Use techniques to prevent cross-contamination when using creams, make-up products, wax pots, etc.
- Wash towels after each use.
Cathedral Insurance Solutions is able to provide risk assessment templates; please contact us at cathedral@rsrisk.solutions for more information.
