What are the main risks in a hair salon?

Skin damage from wet work and products, slips on wet floors and hair, burns from straighteners and dryers, electrical faults in hand held tools, and aches and pains from standing and repetitive movements. Chemicals are covered by COSHH assessments.

Do apprentices need to be covered separately?

Young workers must be considered in the risk assessment. In a salon the main points are that the apprentice is trained and supervised on products and hot tools, and that they are not left to close up alone.

Hairdressing salon risk assessment: completed example and free template

Why these controls

Dermatitis is the hazard that ends careers. Wet hands, shampoo, colour and bleach damage the skin, and once it is damaged it does not recover while the work continues. The controls are gloves for every wet task, drying hands properly and moisturising, and a skin check that is actually done.

Slips on wet floors and cut hair are the most common accident. Hair is swept as soon as a cut is finished, not at the end of the day, and the backwash area has a non slip floor.

The products, colour, bleach powder, peroxide and cleaning products, have COSHH assessments. This document records that they exist and links to them.

Hazard descriptions and controls follow HSE guidance: HSE, Hairdressing; HSE, Skin at work; HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, Catering and hospitality; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Musculoskeletal disorders; HSE, COSHH basics; HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace. Checked 15 September 2026.

This document is a starting point. The employer must check it against the actual workplace, the product safety data sheet and current HSE guidance before relying on it. It is not an HSE approved document.

Risk assessment

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3

Assessment numberRA-001

Revision1

Date of assessment15 September 2026

Last reviewed15 September 2026

Next review15 September 2027

Company or site	Ivy and Oak Hair
Activity	Hairdressing salon
Location	Ground floor salon, 18 High Street: six chairs, two backwash basins, colour mixing area, staff room and store
Assessor	Leah Morgan
Reviewed by	Leah Morgan
Approved by	—

1. The activity

What is done	Cutting, colouring, washing, blow drying and styling in a high street salon. Mixing and applying colour and bleach, backwash shampooing, use of dryers, straighteners and tongs, cleaning the salon at the end of the day.
Who does it, and who else could be affected	Five stylists and one apprentice aged 17. Up to twelve clients at a time. Occasional visits from product reps and the cleaner. Employees, Young or new workers, Members of the public, Visitors

2. Hazards at a glance

Hazard	Before controls	With controls
1. Skin damage from wet work and products	High 15	Low 6
2. Slips, trips and falls on the same level	Medium 12	Low 6
3. Burns and scalds from hot surfaces, liquids and steam	Medium 8	Low 4
4. Electrical equipment and installations	Medium 12	Low 4
5. Prolonged standing and repetitive work	Medium 8	Low 6
6. Hazardous substances	Medium 12	Low 6
7. Fire	Medium 10	Low 5

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

1. Skin damage from wet work and products

What could happen	Dermatitis from hands being wet for long periods and from contact with shampoos, colours, bleach, cleaning products and detergents. Hairdressing and cleaning have some of the highest rates of work related skin disease.
Who could be harmed	All stylists and the apprentice, whose hands are wet for much of the day
Controls in place	Disposable non latex gloves are worn for every wet task and every contact with products, and changed between tasks Hands are dried thoroughly with a soft towel after washing, and moisturiser is provided and used Staff check their skin regularly and report dryness, redness or itching early Products in use have COSHH assessments and less irritant alternatives are used where they exist Skin health surveillance is in place, with a responsible person checking and recording
Risk before controls	High, 15 out of 25 (likelihood 5 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Hairdressing; HSE, Skin at work. The substances involved need their own COSHH assessments.

2. Slips, trips and falls on the same level

What could happen	Sprains, fractures and head injuries from slipping on wet or contaminated floors, or tripping over cables, uneven surfaces, boxes and trailing leads. Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work.
Who could be harmed	Staff and clients, especially around the backwash and where hair is cut
Controls in place	Spills are cleaned up straight away and the wet area is signed or cordoned until it is dry Walkways are kept clear of boxes, stock and equipment, and cables are routed away from walkways or covered Damaged flooring, loose mats and worn steps are reported and repaired Staff wear flat, closed shoes with a good grip; slip resistant footwear is provided where floors are often wet Cut hair is swept after every client, not at the end of the day Dryer and straightener leads are hung on hooks at each station, not left on the floor
Risk before controls	Medium, 12 out of 25 (likelihood 4 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace.

3. Burns and scalds from hot surfaces, liquids and steam

What could happen	Burns and scalds from ovens, hobs, fryers, grills, hot water, steam, hot oil and hot equipment such as straighteners and irons.
Who could be harmed	Stylists and clients: straighteners and tongs at over 200 degrees, hot dryers, hot water at the backwash
Controls in place	Hot equipment is positioned so staff do not have to reach across it, and pan handles are turned in Hot water outlets that people can be scalded by are fitted with thermostatic mixing valves or marked as very hot Staff have been shown how to use each piece of hot equipment safely and how to treat a burn Cold running water is available for treating burns and a burns kit is in the first aid box Straighteners and tongs are placed in heat resistant holders when not in hand and switched off between clients Backwash water temperature is checked with the hand before it reaches the client
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 4 × severity 2)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 2)

Follows HSE, Catering and hospitality.

4. Electrical equipment and installations

What could happen	Electric shock and burns from damaged leads, plugs and equipment, faulty installations or water near electrics. Fire from overloaded sockets and faulty equipment.
Who could be harmed	Stylists using hand held tools near water all day
Controls in place	Staff look at plugs, leads and equipment before use and report anything damaged, which is then taken out of use Portable equipment is inspected and, where needed, tested at intervals that match how it is used, and the record is kept Equipment used outdoors or in wet areas runs through an RCD Extension leads and adaptors are not daisy chained or overloaded, and leads are fully unwound in use Electrical equipment is kept away from water, and nothing is used with wet hands Only a competent electrician does repairs or alterations; staff do not open equipment or replace fuses without training
Risk before controls	Medium, 12 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 4)

Follows HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments.

5. Prolonged standing and repetitive work

What could happen	Back, leg, shoulder and wrist pain from standing all day, working with arms raised, repetitive hand movements and awkward postures.
Who could be harmed	All stylists, on their feet with arms raised for most of the day
Controls in place	Work is arranged so staff can sit, change posture and take breaks through the day Adjustable chairs, cutting stools, anti fatigue mats and tools that suit the task are provided Staff report aches and pains early and the work is adjusted Cutting stools are at every station and stylists sit for cutting where they can
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 4 × severity 2)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 2)

Follows HSE, Musculoskeletal disorders; HSE, Hairdressing.

6. Hazardous substances

What could happen	Burns, dermatitis, asthma, poisoning and long term illness from cleaning products, solvents, dusts, fumes and biological agents. Each substance needs its own COSHH assessment; this entry records that the risk exists and is controlled.
Who could be harmed	Stylists and the apprentice mixing and applying colour, bleach and peroxide; whoever cleans at the end of the day
Controls in place	Every hazardous substance in use has a COSHH assessment, kept in a register with the supplier data sheet Substances are stored in their original labelled containers, in a locked or controlled store, away from incompatible products and food The gloves, eye protection and other PPE the assessment calls for are provided and worn Staff have been told the hazards and the controls for each product they use, and have signed the assessment Spill kits, eyewash and first aid measures matching the products in use are in place and staff know where they are
Risk before controls	Medium, 12 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, COSHH basics. The substances involved need their own COSHH assessments.

7. Fire

What could happen	Burns, smoke inhalation and death if a fire starts and people cannot get out. Sources of ignition include electrical faults, cooking, heaters, smoking and hot work; fuel includes waste, packaging, furnishings and flammable liquids.
Who could be harmed	Everyone in the salon
Controls in place	A fire risk assessment has been done for the premises and its actions are complete or in hand Escape routes and fire exits are kept clear and unlocked while people are inside, and exit signs are visible There is a way to raise the alarm that everyone can hear, and it is tested regularly Extinguishers are provided for the type of fire likely, serviced yearly, and staff know when not to use them Staff know the evacuation procedure and the assembly point, and a drill is held at least once a year Heaters, cooking equipment and electrical equipment are turned off when not in use and are not left unattended
Risk before controls	Medium, 10 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 5)
Risk with controls	Low, 5 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 5)

Follows HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace.

4. Further action required

Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Move routine floor cleaning to quiet times and use a method that leaves floors dry.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Improve lighting where the floor, steps or outside routes cannot be seen clearly.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Fit a handrail, mark step edges and keep stairs clear.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Fit entrance matting and arrange gritting of outside paths in icy weather.Owner: ________. By ________
Burns and scalds from hot surfaces, liquids and steam: Provide dry oven gloves and cloths suited to the equipment and brief staff not to use wet cloths.Owner: ________. By ________
Burns and scalds from hot surfaces, liquids and steam: Set the rule that oil is only moved when cool and fryers are drained with the right equipment.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Book an inspection of the fixed electrical installation by a competent electrician.Owner: ________. By ________
Prolonged standing and repetitive work: Rotate repetitive tasks between staff or break them up with different work.Owner: ________. By ________
Hazardous substances: Check whether a less hazardous product or a ready diluted version would do the job.Owner: ________. By ________
Fire: Clear combustible waste and packaging away from heat and electrics, and store flammable liquids properly.Owner: ________. By ________
Fire: Agree a personal emergency evacuation plan with anyone who would need help to leave.Owner: ________. By ________
Switch to a dust free bleach powder and move colour mixing to the back room with the extractor onOwner: Leah Morgan. By 15 October 2026
Start the monthly skin check and record it on the sheet in the staff roomOwner: Leah Morgan. By 1 October 2026

5. Notes

The apprentice mixes colour only under supervision and does not close the salon alone. First aid kit with burns dressings is in the staff room.

Hazard descriptions and controls drawn from HSE guidance: HSE, Hairdressing; HSE, Skin at work; HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, Catering and hospitality; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Musculoskeletal disorders; HSE, COSHH basics; HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace. This assessment follows the five steps in HSE guidance on risk assessment. It is a starting point; the employer must review it against the actual workplace before relying on it. Review by the next review date, and sooner if the activity, the equipment or the people doing it change, or after an accident or near miss.

Hairdressing salon risk assessment

Why these controls

1. The activity

2. Hazards at a glance

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

4. Further action required

5. Notes

Hazards in this assessment

Common questions

Other completed examples

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