Creabeaux

Hygiene and safety management at health spas in London

Special Feature: Hygiene measures for creating comfortable salons

Introduction

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.

Hygiene and safety management methods at The 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.

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Health and Safety Management Guidelines

This health and safety protocol is a commitment between the sanctuary, its staff and its clients.

The sole responsibility of the general manager

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:

Establish a health and safety management team in each department to assess any risks within the facility and provide staff training as needed.
All staff at the Sanctuary are held accountable and must never engage in any activity that could be dangerous to themselves or others.
Immediately report any accidents, injuries, or damage to the Manager or Duty Manager (the designated person in charge for the day), regardless of whether any injuries are reported. Additionally, report any unsafe conditions, damage, or defects you notice.
Ensure the safe and correct use of all equipment and instruments within the facility.
It is important to always know the location of emergency exits in case of a fire and how to guide clients.

Furthermore, specific examples are provided.

Housekeeping and Tidying

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.

Do not leave bags, supplies, boxes, or other items on the floor or stairs
Dispose of broken glass, ceramics, containers containing hazardous substances, and solid cleaning products in appropriate containers
Store sharp instruments in a safe place
If liquids or other materials are spilled on the floor or stairs, clean them up immediately.
Do not run electrical appliance wires in areas that will become walkways, as they may be tripping hazards.
Always keep aisles and entrances clear

Personal Hygiene

Contact with dirt, chemicals, oils, etc. can cause nausea and dermatitis, which can be unpleasant for guests.

Wash your hands with soap and water or an appropriate cleanser before eating and after using the toilet
After washing, dry your hands with the provided paper towels instead of wiping them with your clothes.
Apply hand cream before and after dirty work
If you experience any skin irritation, rash, blisters, or ulcers, seek medical treatment immediately and report it to your manager.

Transportation

Back pain can interfere with your work. Avoid excessive carrying, even if it means saving time.

Use a wheelbarrow or similar if necessary. Also, make sure there are no obstacles in the path.
Be mindful of your posture when carrying luggage and avoid twisting your body. Also, do not lift things suddenly.

Handling of dangerous goods

All products must have a COSHH assessment (risk assessment) and be recorded, so be sure you understand the contents before handling.

Always read the label on the container and check the COSHH rating if necessary
If you experience any skin rash, inflammation, nausea, or dizziness, be sure to report it.
Never handle items that do not have a COSHH rating

Electrical Safety

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.

Do not use any defective or suspected defective equipment, label it as "unusable" and follow the instructions of the maintenance staff. Also report any damaged wires, plugs or sockets.
Always turn off the power to appliances and sockets before plugging or unplugging them. Also, turn off the power when cleaning the surrounding area or adjusting appliances.
Do not use a multi-circuit adapter as it may overcharge the battery.
Keep away from flammable liquids and wet areas.

Safe handling of VDUs (Visual Display Units)

Before handling the VDU screen or keyboard, make sure they are correctly positioned.

Conducting vision tests as needed
Avoid prolonged use and take frequent breaks. Also, be mindful of your posture and use a document holder to reduce strain on your neck and eyes. Use a footrest if necessary.
Check the brightness and contrast of the screen and pay attention to the lighting in the room.

These are basic items, but in practice they are easy to forget.

Conclusion

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.