London is home to countless health spas, health clubs, and beauty clinics. Most of these facilities have treatment rooms attached. Over the past few years, we've seen a noticeable increase in the number of new facilities with treatment rooms, and demand appears to be growing. As a result, competition within the industry has become increasingly fierce. Each company is constantly experimenting with cutting-edge treatments and campaigns to find a way to stand out from the competition. Clients now have more choices, and are increasingly seeking clean, well-equipped facilities with diverse amenities. New facilities are opening and offering more opportunities to try new things. The opening of new facilities also benefits therapists, who can work in comfortable treatment rooms, leading to improved treatment quality. The increased availability of work opportunities is also not to be overlooked.
The reason why facilities can be used comfortably and safely in this way is because guidelines known as the "Health and Safety Policy" are set out by law. Staff regularly inspect each facility to ensure that it is being operated in accordance with the regulations. The strictness of legal regulations varies slightly from region to region in the UK, and facilities in London's Westminster district in particular appear to be stricter than other districts, requiring therapists to be licensed. The health spa where I work, The Sanctuary Day Spa, is also located in the Westminster district. In this article, I would like to introduce the health and safety management at Sanctuary.
Compared to when I joined the company about three years ago, the health and safety management guidelines seem to have become much clearer over the past year and a half. The guidelines are posted in the staff room and distributed to each staff member in paper form. Many other spas simply display the guidelines on the wall. With regard to safety management in particular, we require all staff to take a tour of the health spa, known as a "Fire Walk," in which they check each emergency exit. This is to ensure that clients are guided quickly and smoothly in the event of a fire. Compared to other spas, our facility has a much larger capacity and is very large, like a maze, so I believe we've made these kinds of efforts. Let me introduce the guidelines in detail.
This health and safety protocol is a commitment between the sanctuary, its staff and its clients.
Managers and supervisors in each department are required to educate their staff and regularly supervise and inspect them to ensure they meet legal and regulatory standards.
The basic items are:
Furthermore, specific examples are provided.
Slips, trips, and falls are common workplace accidents that can result in serious injuries. Poor housekeeping practices can not only cause fires but also contribute to the spread of fires, and leave a bad impression on guests.
Contact with dirt, chemicals, oils, etc. can cause nausea and dermatitis, which can be unpleasant for guests.
Back pain can interfere with your work. Avoid excessive carrying, even if it means saving time.
All products must have a COSHH assessment (risk assessment) and be recorded, so be sure you understand the contents before handling.
Electricity can cause electric shock, fire, explosion and sometimes even death. The company has a duty to ensure that electrical appliances are installed in safe locations. Department managers are responsible for regularly visually inspecting plugs, sockets, lines and equipment.
Before handling the VDU screen or keyboard, make sure they are correctly positioned.
These are basic items, but in practice they are easy to forget.
Teamwork is key to maintaining a consistently hygienic and safe environment. Our spa has lifeguards who respond quickly to accidents. Each department holds regular meetings to discuss issues and responds to customer surveys, striving to make improvements. Partial renovations will begin in July of this year, and we look forward to seeing the spa transformed into an even more comfortable place.
RQA‑affiliated Aromatherapist & BRA‑affiliated Reflexologist
After graduating in March 1998 from Otsuma Women’s University (Department of English / Practical English Studies), she worked in a variety of positions at major companies, a travel agency and a production company in Tokyo and London, gaining diverse professional experience.
In July 1997 she went to the UK to study at the Tisserand Institute. Afterwards she studied reflexology at the Bailey School. She has also studied Indian Champissage (Indian head massage), Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Reiki, and obtained a qualification in Hydrosome (hydro‑therapy system). In addition, she has studied hospice care, advanced clinical aromatherapy, Essential Energetics and Oriental Diagnosis courses.
Currently she is studying body‑psychotherapy at the Chiron Center, and alongside work in health spas and hospice care, she serves as a teaching assistant at the Tisserand Institute.