Just like every other business, salons and spas also need to take adequate care of fire safety. Any negligence at any stage can turn into a hefty loss. Additionally, reopening a business after a big fire breakout is not simple.
Most importantly, it can put the life of your staff and customers in danger. Therefore, adhering to the law of fire safety is imperative.
But, how will you get assurance of fire safety? This article will tell you complete details about the fire risk assessment of spas and salons. Thoroughly read them and be sure to follow the tips. So, here you go:
Fire Risk Assessment
For doing a fire risk assessment, you need to follow the below-mentioned five steps:
- Know the possible sources of fire accidents. For instance, check all the electronic appliances like hairdryers, wax warmers, curlers, hair straighteners, etc. Sometimes, even a loose switch in the socket can result in fire. Therefore, check all the sockets of the salons and the connectors of these appliances. Also, be sure to put the flammable salon chemicals away from such machines.
- Keep at least two fire extinguishers in the salon. One should be a CO2 extinguisher and the other one should be of water or foam. The third category, which is a dry powder extinguisher is not suitable for salons. CO2 extinguishers are suitable for fires caused by electrical items. On the other hand, foam extinguishers are best for fires related to cloth, gas, paper, and rubbish.
- Purchase other precautionary equipment to avoid direct handling of electrical appliances like gloves, uniforms, masks, etc. Additionally, use disposable gloves when handling harsh chemicals, bleach, and hair dyes.
- Emergency lighting is highly important even if you have a single-story salon. This light will help the staff to know the exit route in case of emergency.
- Keep a check on gas pipes and leakages. Also, call a registered gas engineer for a yearly assessment. If you own the property of a salon, you should have a gas safety certificate. Gas safety certificate cost is minimal, and it allows you to ensure the gas safety of your building.
- Be sure to provide appropriate training to the staff members for fire safety. Yearly training is not enough. Keep reinforcing the must-haves and to-dos for fire safety after a few months.
- Prepare a contingency plan and send copies of it to everyone in your team.
- Prepare proper documents of the findings. Also, keep a check every month so that you can reduce the chances of any mishap.
Identifying People at Risk
Commonly we consider our customers and staff at high risk. However, anyone within the premises is at the risk. These people also include our suppliers, contractors, visitors, etc. Furthermore, salon owners should have a comprehensive safety plan for adults, children, and the disabled.
Plan, Record, and Train
In your plan, you will focus on things like the exit route in case of fire, where will the staff assemble and who are the fire wardens? Also, decide who is responsible to call the fire brigade. Keep at least three options for calling.
Fire wardens are essential for every spa and salon. Select few responsible members of your team for fire wardens. These people will then be responsible to train the other staff, arrange precautions for fire safety, and making everyone calm in case of emergency. Remember, these wardens must have an advanced level of training to deal with such urgencies.
Who Can Perform Fire Risk Assessment?
A business owner who has enough knowledge of fire hazards and accidents can perform the fire assessment. However, professionals are also there to conduct a legal risk assessment of spas and salons. Legally, you should have a fire certificate given by a registered professional. In case, if you plan to give your salon on rent in the future, you will give a copy of this certificate to the tenant. In another case, if you are a tenant, be sure to obtain a copy of the certificate from the landlord.
Key Tips
- Select a suitable space for keeping all the hot equipment like hair curlers, waxing machines, straighteners, etc. Besides this, keep an eye that the equipment does not become too hot. Also, make sure that the hot equipment does not touch any wire.
- Call a licensed electrician to inspect your salon once a year. This will highlight any potential damage to the appliances and wiring.
- Also, call a registered professional for a gas safety check every year. Keep on checking the air vents, they should not be blocked. In winters, heaters can sometimes trap gas in the salon, making it vulnerable to fire accidents.
- Do not forget to get insurance coverage for your salon.
- Take a fire safety kit that contains fire extinguishers, fire blankets, water, etc.
- Get a fire drill every year.
- Show signs of danger in every high-risk area of the salon. This will help in reminding the staff about the safe and mindful use of electrical equipment.
- If you are opening a salon for the first time, you can also contact any professional fire assessment service company. These companies provide staff training, fire safety equipment, assessment, and much more.
Wrapping It Up
In short, salons and spas have a high risk of fire accidents. Since there is a use of multiple electrical appliances, flammable chemicals, and sprays, fire safety should be the top priority of the salon owners. To ensure the acute safety of the staff, customers, and other visitors, getting a fire certificate is imperative. This certificate is awarded by a professional fire assessment expert.
Furthermore, taking precautionary measures for fire safety is essential. Such measures include preparing a contingency plan, training the staff, fixing CO2 and water extinguishers, etc. Besides this, a fire drill and signs of danger are also helpful.
Running a salon comes along with many other additional responsibilities besides providing a great service. Fire safety is one of them. However, if you strictly follow the above-mentioned tips, you can peacefully run a salon without any risk.
Author Bio:
Myrah Abrar is a computer science graduate with a passion for web development and digital marketing. She writes blog articles for Gas Safety Certs.
