Health and safety inspectors from Bath & North East Somerset Council are set to carry out advisory visits to beauty salons within the local area.
The beauty industry is a valuable source of income and employment and officers aim to offer support by providing help and advice for businesses and employees.
Cllr David Dixon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Most businesses strive to promote and maintain good hygiene practices.
“But many of the businesses are small operators and do not know how to access Health & Safety information or advice through mainstream channels.
“Where standards fall short, officers can provide advice and guidance on how to improve as well as providing other health and safety advice in order to fulfil their legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
“Many of the businesses we have visited have welcomed our advice. They have concerns over those who are not maintaining good standards and give the industry a bad name.”
One salon which has already received a visit is Sacco Beauty, in Westgate Street, Bath, run by sisters Rebecca Banahan, aged 29, and Harriet Sacco, aged 25.
Formed eight years ago by Rebecca, the salon offers a range of beauty treatments including facials, massage, specialist hot waxing, manicures and pedicures and tanning.
They received a visit from the Council’s Health & Safety team three weeks ago to ensure that their clients are being protected from the risk of infection.
The team aims to ensuring that beauty salons in the area follow good practice and have satisfactory hygiene standards in place.
Rebecca said: “The visit was really friendly and helpful. It was useful to know that we are complying with the correct guidelines and legislation.”
Under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982, beauty salons are required to register with the Council for any skin-piercing activities which include cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing), electrolysis, semi-permanent make-up, tattooing and acupuncture. It is an offence not to be registered.
Sara Chiffers, the Council’s Senior Environmental Health Officer, added: “Skin-piercing activities such as electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up also bring an elevated risk from blood borne infections if not carried out properly.
“A number of businesses have been operating unregistered and officers would urge clients to ensure they see the businesses’ registration certificate before undertaking any of those treatments,” she said.