COSHH Assessment for Hair Dye, Bleach, and Salon Chemicals: Hairdresser's Guide

TL;DR: If you work in a hair salon — whether you own it, manage it, or work as a mobile hairdresser — the chemicals you handle every day are legally classified as hazardous substances. Hair dye containing PPD is a potent skin sensitiser. Bleach powder releases dust that can trigger occupational asthma. Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive at the concentrations you use. Keratin treatments can release formaldehyde vapour. Under COSHH Regulations 2002 (UK) and the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 (Ireland), you must carry out a COSHH assessment for every one of these products, put control measures in place, and record it all in writing if you employ anyone. This guide walks you through the entire process — with real chemical names, real H-codes, worked examples, and the control measures that actually prevent harm.

Introduction: Hairdressing Chemicals Are More Dangerous Than Most People Think

Hairdressing does not look like a hazardous occupation. There are no heavy machines, no construction sites, no forklifts. But the statistics tell a different story.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), hairdressers have one of the highest rates of occupational contact dermatitis of any profession. Research consistently shows that up to 70% of hairdressers will develop some form of skin damage during their career. That is not a typo. Seven out of ten.

The cause is not bad luck. It is daily, repeated exposure to chemicals that are classified as hazardous under the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) — and, critically, a widespread failure to assess and control that exposure properly.

In the United Kingdom, the legal duty to assess these chemicals comes from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). In Ireland, the equivalent obligation comes from the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001, enforced under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (SHWW Act).

Both sets of regulations require the same thing: if you use hazardous substances at work, you must assess the risks and put controls in place. If you employ staff — even one junior stylist or Saturday assistant — you must record those assessments in writing.

Sole traders are not exempt from the process. You are still required to carry out the assessment, even if you are not legally obliged to write it down. In practice, most mobile hairdressers write them down anyway, because salon insurance providers, venue managers, and local authorities increasingly ask to see them.

If you are new to COSHH and want a broader overview of how assessments work across all industries, read our complete COSHH assessment guide first. For guidance that covers the full range of salon and beauty health and safety obligations — not just chemicals — see our health and safety guide for beauty salons. And if you need a general risk assessment for your salon, our beauty salon risk assessment template is a good starting point.

This article focuses specifically on the chemicals you encounter in hairdressing and beauty work, and how to assess them under COSHH.

Which Salon Chemicals Need a COSHH Assessment?

The short answer: any product with a hazard pictogram on its label — one of those red-bordered diamond symbols. The longer answer: almost everything in your salon that is not plain water.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the most common hairdressing and beauty chemicals that require a COSHH assessment, along with their key hazardous ingredients, H-codes, and the hazards they present.

Permanent Hair Dye

Permanent (oxidative) hair dyes are among the most hazardous products in any salon. They contain aromatic amines that are potent skin sensitisers, meaning they can cause allergic reactions that worsen with every subsequent exposure.

Ingredient	Role	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)	Primary dye intermediate	H301, H311, H317, H319, H411	Toxic if swallowed/skin contact; skin sensitiser; eye irritant; aquatic toxicity
p-Toluenediamine (PTD)	Alternative dye intermediate	H301, H311, H317, H319	Similar profile to PPD — toxic, sensitising
Resorcinol	Dye coupler	H302, H315, H317, H319, H400	Harmful if swallowed; skin/eye irritant; sensitiser; aquatic toxicity
Ammonia (in alkaline dyes)	Swells hair cuticle; activates developer	H314, H331	Corrosive; toxic if inhaled
Ethanolamine (in ammonia-free dyes)	Alternative alkaliser	H302, H312, H314, H332	Harmful by multiple routes; corrosive

PPD is the ingredient that gets the most attention, and for good reason. It is classified as a Category 1 skin sensitiser (H317), which means it has a high potency for causing allergic contact dermatitis. Once a person becomes sensitised to PPD, the allergy is permanent. There is no cure, and every future exposure — even a tiny amount — can trigger a reaction that may be more severe than the last.

Semi-Permanent Dyes

Semi-permanent dyes do not typically contain PPD or ammonia, but they are not harmless. Many contain other sensitising agents and irritants. Always check the SDS — do not assume they are safe to skip.

Hydrogen Peroxide (Developer)

Hydrogen peroxide is the developer mixed with hair dye and bleach. The hazard profile changes significantly with concentration:

Concentration	Typical Use	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
3% (10 vol)	Deposit-only colour	H302, H318	Harmful if swallowed; serious eye damage
6% (20 vol)	Standard colour	H302, H318, H332, H335	+ Harmful if inhaled; respiratory irritation
9% (30 vol)	High-lift colour	H302, H318, H332, H335	Same as above, higher severity
12% (40 vol)	Bleach mixing	H271, H302, H318, H332, H335	+ Oxidiser; may intensify fire

The key point: higher concentrations carry more hazard codes and present a greater risk of burns, eye damage, and respiratory irritation. Your COSHH assessment must reflect which concentrations you actually use.

Bleach Powder

Bleach powder (lightener) is one of the highest-risk products in a salon. The primary active ingredient is ammonium persulphate, a powerful oxidiser and sensitiser.

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Ammonium persulphate	H302, H315, H317, H319, H334, H335	Harmful if swallowed; skin irritant; skin sensitiser; eye irritant; respiratory sensitiser (may cause asthma); respiratory irritant
Potassium persulphate	H272, H302, H315, H317, H319, H334, H335	Similar profile; also an oxidiser

H334 is the critical code here. It means the substance may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled. This makes bleach powder a respiratory sensitiser — the airborne dust generated when scooping and mixing can cause occupational asthma. Once someone develops persulphate-induced asthma, they may never be able to work with bleach again.

Keratin / Brazilian Blowout Treatments

This is one of the most controversial areas in salon chemicals. Many keratin smoothing treatments contain or release formaldehyde (or formaldehyde-releasing agents like methylene glycol) when heated.

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Formaldehyde	H301, H311, H314, H317, H331, H341, H350, H370	Toxic; corrosive; skin sensitiser; suspected mutagen; may cause cancer; organ damage

Yes, you read that correctly. Formaldehyde carries H350 — may cause cancer. It is classified as a Category 1B carcinogen by the EU. Some products marketed as “formaldehyde-free” still release formaldehyde when heated during the treatment process. The only way to know is to check the SDS and, ideally, test the air in your salon during application.

If you offer keratin treatments, your COSHH assessment must address the formaldehyde risk, and ventilation is absolutely critical.

Acetone (Nail Polish Remover)

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Acetone	H225, H319, H336	Highly flammable; eye irritant; may cause drowsiness or dizziness

Acetone is a solvent. It evaporates rapidly, meaning the vapour concentration in a poorly ventilated nail station can build up quickly. H225 (highly flammable) also means you need to consider fire risk in storage.

Acrylics and Gel Nail Products

Acrylic nail systems use methacrylate monomers — specifically methyl methacrylate (MMA) or, more commonly now, ethyl methacrylate (EMA). UV/LED gel products often contain hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA).

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Methyl methacrylate (MMA)	H225, H315, H317, H335	Flammable; skin irritant; skin sensitiser; respiratory irritant
Ethyl methacrylate (EMA)	H225, H315, H335	Flammable; skin irritant; respiratory irritant
HEMA / HPMA (in gel products)	H315, H317, H319, H335	Skin irritant; skin sensitiser; eye irritant; respiratory irritant

Methacrylate allergy is a growing problem in the beauty industry. H317 (skin sensitiser) appears for both MMA and HEMA, and reports of nail technicians — and their clients — developing methacrylate allergy have increased significantly in recent years.

Nail Dust (Particulate)

Filing acrylic or gel nails generates fine dust that is classified as a particulate not otherwise specified (PNOS). While it does not carry specific H-codes in the way a chemical product does, it is still a substance hazardous to health under COSHH because inhaling fine particulate can irritate the respiratory system and, over prolonged exposure, contribute to occupational lung disease.

Your COSHH assessment should cover nail dust, and the primary control measure is a nail dust extraction unit at each workstation.

Wax (Warm and Hot Wax)

Wax products themselves may not carry significant chemical hazards (though some contain rosin/colophony, which is a skin sensitiser — H317). The primary COSHH-adjacent risk is thermal burns from heated wax. While burns are more typically covered in a risk assessment, if the wax contains sensitising ingredients, it needs a COSHH assessment too.

Lash Adhesive (Eyelash Extension Glue)

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Cyanoacrylate (ethyl or butyl)	H315, H319, H335	Skin irritant; eye irritant; respiratory irritant

Cyanoacrylate vapour is an irritant. In poorly ventilated rooms, the fumes can cause eye watering, nasal irritation, and coughing. For technicians applying lash extensions for several hours a day, cumulative exposure is a real concern.

Tanning Solutions (Spray Tan)

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)	H319	Eye irritant

DHA itself has a relatively low hazard profile, but the concern with spray tanning is inhalation of the mist. The fine aerosol generated during application can carry DHA and other solution ingredients into the lungs. Your COSHH assessment for spray tanning must address mist inhalation, and extraction ventilation or a spray tan booth with extraction is the primary control.

Barbicide and Sterilising Solutions

Ingredient	Common H-Codes	Key Hazards
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)	H302, H314, H400	Harmful if swallowed; corrosive; toxic to aquatic life

If you use Barbicide, Mundo, or similar tool disinfectants, they need a COSHH assessment. The same applies if you use cleaning chemicals in the salon — see our COSHH assessment guide for cleaning chemicals for detailed guidance on that side of things.

Reading Safety Data Sheets for Salon Chemicals

Every COSHH assessment starts with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product. This is a standardised document — usually 8 to 16 pages — that the manufacturer or supplier is legally required to provide for any hazardous product.

Under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — which applies in both the UK (as retained EU law) and Ireland — your supplier must provide an SDS free of charge, in English, and in the most up-to-date version.

Where to get them

1. Ask your supplier or distributor. Salon product distributors like Salon Services, Sally Beauty, Capital Hair and Beauty, and others are required to provide SDS documents for hazardous products. Ask at the point of purchase or check your trade account online.
2. Check the manufacturer’s website. Major brands like Wella, L’Oreal Professionnel, Schwarzkopf Professional, and Goldwell publish SDS documents online. Search for the exact product name followed by “Safety Data Sheet” or “SDS.”
3. Contact the manufacturer directly. If you cannot find the SDS online, phone or email the manufacturer. They are legally obliged to provide one.

Which sections matter for COSHH

A Safety Data Sheet has 16 sections. For COSHH purposes, focus on three:

• Section 2 — Hazards Identification. This gives you the GHS classification, hazard pictograms, signal word (Danger or Warning), H-codes (hazard statements), and P-codes (precautionary statements). This is the backbone of your COSHH assessment.
• Section 7 — Handling and Storage. This tells you safe handling procedures, ventilation requirements, temperature limits, and incompatible materials. This feeds directly into your control measures.
• Section 8 — Exposure Controls / Personal Protection. This specifies Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) if applicable and the recommended PPE: glove type and material, eye protection, respiratory protection, and protective clothing.

Print out Sections 2, 7, and 8 for each product. Keep them in a folder alongside your COSHH assessments. When an inspector visits, having the relevant SDS pages to hand demonstrates that your assessments are based on actual data, not guesswork.

Worked Example: COSHH Assessment for Hair Dye Containing PPD

Let us walk through a complete COSHH assessment for a permanent hair dye product containing PPD. This is one of the most common — and most hazardous — products in any salon.

Step 1: Identify the Substance

• Product name: [Your brand] Permanent Colour Cream (e.g., Wella Koleston Perfect, L’Oreal Majirel, or similar)
• Active hazardous ingredients: p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), resorcinol, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide (in developer — assessed separately)
• Supplier: Purchased from [your distributor]
• SDS obtained: Yes — date obtained and version number recorded

Step 2: Record the Hazards (from the SDS)

• GHS Classification: Skin Sens. 1 (H317); Eye Irrit. 2 (H319); Aquatic Chronic 2 (H411); Acute Tox. 4 (H302, H312)
• Hazard pictograms: Exclamation mark (GHS07), Environment (GHS09)
• Signal word: Warning
• Key H-codes:
  • H302 — Harmful if swallowed
  • H312 — Harmful in contact with skin
  • H317 — May cause an allergic skin reaction
  • H319 — Causes serious eye irritation
  • H411 — Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Step 3: Who Is Exposed and How?

• Stylists — skin contact during mixing and application; inhalation of ammonia vapour
• Junior staff / assistants — skin contact during rinsing and washing out colour
• Clients — scalp contact during application (not covered by COSHH, but relevant to your overall duty of care)

Routes of exposure: Dermal (skin contact with dye mixture); inhalation (ammonia vapour, especially in poorly ventilated spaces); ocular (splashes during mixing or application)

Step 4: Control Measures

1. Elimination / substitution: Consider whether a PPD-free alternative is suitable for the desired result. Some manufacturers offer reduced-PPD formulations. However, substitution is not always possible for the colour results clients want.
2. Engineering controls: Ensure adequate ventilation in the colouring area. Avoid mixing in enclosed spaces. Use back-wash basins with splash guards.
3. PPE:
   • Gloves: Disposable nitrile gloves (not latex — see dermatitis section below). Change gloves between clients and if they become torn or contaminated. The SDS will specify glove thickness and breakthrough time — typically a minimum of 0.1mm nitrile.
   • Apron: Chemical-resistant apron to protect clothing and skin.
   • Eye protection: Safety glasses or a visor if there is a risk of splashing during mixing.
4. Safe working practices: Mix only the amount needed. Do not decant into unmarked containers. Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves. Avoid eating, drinking, or touching your face during colour application.
5. Health surveillance: Skin checks for stylists who regularly handle dye (see dermatitis prevention section below).
6. First aid: In case of skin contact — remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with plenty of water. In case of eye contact — rinse continuously with water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical advice. Ensure first aid procedures are displayed.
7. Disposal: Do not pour unused dye mixture down the drain. Dispose of in accordance with local regulations. Rinse residues can go down the drain with plenty of water.

Step 5: Review Date

Set a review date — at least annually, or sooner if you change products, a staff member reports a reaction, or there is a significant change in how the product is used.

Worked Example: COSHH Assessment for Bleach Powder

Step 1: Identify the Substance

• Product name: [Your brand] Bleach Powder / Lightening Powder (e.g., Schwarzkopf BlondMe, Wella Blondor, L’Oreal Blond Studio)
• Active hazardous ingredients: Ammonium persulphate, potassium persulphate, sodium silicate
• Supplier: Purchased from [your distributor]
• SDS obtained: Yes — date obtained and version number recorded

Step 2: Record the Hazards (from the SDS)

• GHS Classification: Resp. Sens. 1 (H334); Skin Sens. 1 (H317); Eye Irrit. 2 (H319); STOT SE 3 (H335); Acute Tox. 4 (H302)
• Hazard pictograms: Exclamation mark (GHS07), Health hazard (GHS08)
• Signal word: Danger
• Key H-codes:
  • H302 — Harmful if swallowed
  • H315 — Causes skin irritation
  • H317 — May cause an allergic skin reaction
  • H319 — Causes serious eye irritation
  • H334 — May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled
  • H335 — May cause respiratory irritation

Step 3: Who Is Exposed and How?

• Stylists — inhalation of powder dust during scooping and mixing; skin contact during application
• Other salon staff and clients — secondary inhalation exposure if ventilation is poor

Routes of exposure: Inhalation (airborne persulphate dust is the primary risk); dermal (skin contact with powder or mixed product); ocular (dust or splash in eyes)

Step 4: Control Measures

1. Elimination / substitution: Some manufacturers offer dust-free or low-dust bleach formulations. These reduce (but do not eliminate) the inhalation risk. Consider switching if you have not already.
2. Engineering controls:
   • Ventilation is critical. Mix bleach in a well-ventilated area — ideally near an open window or under local exhaust ventilation.
   • Use a scoop rather than pouring from the tub, to minimise dust cloud formation.
   • Keep the lid on the bleach tub when not scooping.
   • Mix at a low level (below face height) to keep dust away from the breathing zone.
3. PPE:
   • Gloves: Disposable nitrile gloves. Change between clients.
   • Apron: Chemical-resistant apron.
   • Respiratory protection: If working in a space with poor ventilation, or if you mix large quantities, an FFP2 disposable mask during mixing provides additional protection. In a well-ventilated salon with low-dust powder, this may not be necessary — but your assessment must justify the decision.
   • Eye protection: Safety glasses during mixing.
4. Safe working practices: Open the tub carefully — do not tear the lid off. Scoop gently. Do not blow powder off surfaces. Wipe up spilt powder with a damp cloth, not a dry sweep (which generates more airborne dust).
5. Health surveillance: Any staff member who regularly mixes bleach should be monitored for respiratory symptoms. If anyone develops a persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or breathlessness — especially if it worsens at work and improves on days off — refer them to occupational health immediately. Persulphate-induced asthma is a reportable occupational disease under RIDDOR.
6. First aid: In case of inhalation — move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, seek medical attention. In case of eye contact — rinse with water for at least 15 minutes.

Step 5: Review Date

Review annually, or sooner if you change products, if a staff member reports symptoms, or if ventilation arrangements change.

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Our Beauty Salon Kit includes pre-filled COSHH assessments for 8 common salon chemicals — including hair dye, bleach, perm solution, and acrylic nail monomer. Ready to download today.

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Dermatitis Prevention: The Biggest Issue in Hairdressing

Occupational contact dermatitis is the single most common health problem in hairdressing. It is also one of the most preventable — if you take the right steps.

There are two types:

• Irritant contact dermatitis — caused by repeated exposure to irritating substances (water, shampoo, detergents). It is cumulative — the skin barrier breaks down over time.
• Allergic contact dermatitis — caused by an immune reaction to a specific substance (PPD, persulphates, methacrylates). Once sensitised, the allergy is permanent.

Wet Work

The HSE defines wet work as work that involves hands being in contact with water, or wearing occlusive (waterproof) gloves, for more than 2 hours per day, or involving more than 20 handwashes per day. Hairdressers routinely exceed both thresholds.

Wet work is a COSHH-relevant hazard. Prolonged water exposure strips the natural oils from the skin, damages the skin barrier, and makes dermatitis far more likely. Your COSHH assessment for salon work should address wet work as a hazard, even though water itself is not a “chemical.”

Glove Selection

Use nitrile gloves. Not latex.

This is not optional guidance. Latex gloves are themselves a sensitiser — they can cause latex allergy (Type I hypersensitivity), which can be severe and even life-threatening in rare cases. They also provide poor chemical resistance against many salon products.

Nitrile gloves provide better chemical resistance, do not cause latex allergy, and are readily available in all sizes. Use them for:

• Mixing and applying colour
• Mixing and applying bleach
• Rinsing out colour and bleach
• Applying keratin treatments
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Any task that involves contact with a hazardous product

Change gloves between clients. If gloves become torn or punctured, remove and replace them immediately. Wash and dry your hands before putting on a new pair.

Barrier Cream

Barrier creams are sometimes recommended as skin protection. The evidence for their effectiveness is limited. They are not a substitute for gloves and should not be treated as one. At best, barrier cream provides a supplementary layer of protection for areas that cannot be covered by gloves (wrists, forearms). It should not be relied upon as a primary control measure.

Skin Checks and Health Surveillance

If your staff regularly handle salon chemicals — which, in a hairdressing salon, means everyone — you should implement regular skin checks. These do not need to be performed by a doctor. A simple visual check of the hands, wrists, and forearms can be done by a trained member of staff (or yourself, as the owner) at regular intervals.

What to look for:

• Redness, dryness, or cracking of the skin — especially between the fingers and on the backs of the hands
• Itching, burning, or stinging that worsens at work
• Small blisters or weeping areas
• Skin that does not heal between shifts

If any of these signs are present, the affected person should:

1. Stop handling the suspected chemical immediately
2. See their GP or an occupational health professional
3. Report the issue to you (the employer) so you can review and update the COSHH assessment

Under COSHH, if a staff member develops a condition that could be linked to chemical exposure at work, you may be required to arrange formal health surveillance — which means referral to an occupational health professional.

What to Do If Symptoms Appear

Do not ignore early signs. Dermatitis that is caught early — when the skin is dry and cracked but not yet blistered or weeping — can often be managed by improving glove use, reducing wet work, and using a good-quality emollient moisturiser (not perfumed hand cream — a proper emollient such as Epaderm, Diprobase, or Cetraben) regularly throughout the day and before bed.

If the condition progresses, or if allergic contact dermatitis is suspected (because the reaction occurs only with specific products), the person must be referred for patch testing by a dermatologist. This is the only way to confirm which specific chemicals are causing the allergic reaction.

Ventilation Requirements

Ventilation is a critical control measure for several salon activities, and your COSHH assessments must address it specifically.

When Ventilation Is Essential

• Keratin / Brazilian blowout treatments: These release formaldehyde vapour when heated. The UK Workplace Exposure Limit for formaldehyde is 2 ppm (short-term, 15 minutes). In poorly ventilated rooms, this limit can be exceeded during a single treatment. You need effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or, at a minimum, very good general ventilation with open windows and extractor fans.
• Acrylic nails: Methacrylate vapour is a respiratory irritant. Nail stations should have downdraft extraction or a purpose-built extraction unit.
• Spray tanning: The aerosol mist contains DHA and other ingredients. A spray tan booth with extraction is the recommended control. If you use a tent-style enclosure, it must be positioned near an extractor or open window.
• Bleach mixing: Persulphate dust becomes airborne during scooping and mixing. Mix in a well-ventilated area and consider a mixing station away from the main salon floor.
• General colouring work: Ammonia vapour from hair dye can build up in enclosed rooms. Adequate general ventilation — open windows, extractor fans, air conditioning with fresh air intake — is necessary.

What “Adequate Ventilation” Actually Means

“Open a window” is a start, but it is not always sufficient. The HSE recommends that salons have a minimum air change rate appropriate to the activity. For general hairdressing, good general ventilation (natural or mechanical) is usually adequate. For activities that release significant vapour or dust — keratin treatments, acrylic nails, spray tanning — local exhaust ventilation (a purpose-built extraction unit that captures the contaminant at source) is the proper control.

If your COSHH assessment identifies a need for LEV, you are also required to have it examined and tested at least every 14 months under Regulation 9 of COSHH. Keep the test records — inspectors will ask for them.

Storage and Handling

Proper storage is a legal requirement and a practical one. Here are the key rules:

• Store chemicals in their original containers. Do not decant into unmarked bottles or containers. Every container must be labelled with the product name and the hazard pictograms.
• Keep products in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Many salon chemicals degrade in heat, and some (hydrogen peroxide, acetone) are oxidisers or flammable liquids that present a fire risk if stored incorrectly.
• Store flammable products (acetone, some aerosols, methacrylate monomers) away from heat sources, open flames, and ignition points. If you store significant quantities, a metal fire-resistant cabinet is recommended.
• Keep incompatible chemicals apart. Hydrogen peroxide (an oxidiser) should not be stored next to flammable solvents like acetone. Check Section 10 (Stability and Reactivity) of each SDS for incompatibilities.
• Store chemicals out of reach of children and unauthorised persons. If your salon is open to the public, ensure chemical storage areas are locked or inaccessible.
• First aid materials should be stored nearby — including an eyewash station or at least sterile eyewash bottles.
• Spill kits: Have absorbent materials available for cleaning up chemical spills. For corrosive substances (peroxide, ammonia), a spill should be absorbed, not washed down the drain.

Training Requirements for Staff

Under COSHH Regulation 12 (UK) and the Chemical Agents Regulations (Ireland), every employee who may be exposed to hazardous substances must receive adequate information, instruction, and training. For a hair salon, this means:

• What chemicals are used in the salon and what their hazards are. Staff should know which products are sensitisers, which are corrosive, and which require ventilation.
• How to read a product label and what the hazard pictograms mean. Every staff member should be able to identify the GHS pictograms and understand the basics: skull and crossbones = toxic, exclamation mark = irritant/harmful, corrosion = corrosive, health hazard = serious long-term effects.
• What PPE to use and when. Specifically: nitrile gloves for all chemical tasks, eye protection when mixing bleach or peroxide, aprons to prevent skin contact.
• How to mix products safely. Including the importance of ventilation, not generating unnecessary dust or splash, and using the correct ratios.
• What to do if something goes wrong. First aid procedures for skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, and spillage. Where the SDS folder is kept. Who to report incidents to.
• Skin care. How to check their own skin for signs of dermatitis, the importance of using emollients, and that they must report any skin problems immediately — without fear of consequences.

Training should be provided at induction (before a new employee handles any chemicals), refreshed annually, and updated whenever you introduce a new product or change a process.

Record all training — who was trained, what was covered, and the date. A simple training log is sufficient.

Common Mistakes

Having reviewed hundreds of salon COSHH assessments, these are the most frequent failures:

1. No COSHH assessments at all. The most common problem. Many salon owners either do not know COSHH applies to them, or assume it is only for “industrial” chemicals. It applies to every hazardous product you use.

2. Generic assessments that do not name the actual products. A COSHH assessment for “hair dye” is not sufficient. You need to assess the specific product — by name, manufacturer, and the hazards listed on its SDS.

3. No Safety Data Sheets on file. If you cannot produce the SDS for a product, your COSHH assessment for it is essentially incomplete. An inspector will notice.

4. Using latex gloves. Latex is a sensitiser. Nitrile is the correct choice for salon work. If your supplier is still sending you latex gloves, switch.

5. Ignoring wet work. Water is not a “chemical” in the usual sense, but wet work is a COSHH-relevant hazard. If your stylists spend more than 2 hours a day with wet hands or in gloves, your assessments must address this.

6. No ventilation assessment for keratin treatments. If you offer Brazilian blowouts or similar formaldehyde-releasing treatments without proper ventilation and without addressing this in your COSHH assessment, you are exposing staff (and clients) to a known carcinogen.

7. No skin checks or health surveillance. You do not need a full occupational health programme, but you do need a system for checking staff skin and acting on early signs of dermatitis.

8. Assessments never reviewed. A COSHH assessment written three years ago and never updated is not compliant. Review annually, or whenever products, processes, or staff change.

9. No training records. You may have trained your staff verbally, but if there is no record of it, you cannot prove it happened.

10. Assuming “professional products” are safe. A product being sold through a professional salon distributor does not make it less hazardous. The chemistry does not change because the label says “professional.” Check the SDS, record the hazards, and assess accordingly.

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Summary

Hairdressing chemicals are hazardous substances. Hair dye containing PPD is a potent skin sensitiser. Bleach powder containing persulphates is a respiratory sensitiser that can cause occupational asthma. Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive at salon-use concentrations. Keratin treatments can release formaldehyde — a known carcinogen. Acetone is highly flammable. Methacrylate monomers in nail products are sensitisers that can trigger permanent allergic reactions.

Every one of these products needs a COSHH assessment. That means:

• Obtaining the Safety Data Sheet for each product you use
• Identifying the hazards — the H-codes, the hazard pictograms, the routes of exposure
• Deciding on control measures — ventilation, PPE (nitrile gloves, eye protection, aprons), safe mixing and handling procedures, proper storage
• Recording the assessment in writing (mandatory if you employ anyone; strongly recommended even if you do not)
• Training your staff on the chemicals they handle, the PPE they must use, and what to do if things go wrong
• Monitoring skin health — regular skin checks, early intervention, referral to occupational health if needed
• Reviewing assessments at least annually, or whenever products, processes, or circumstances change

The law is clear — both the COSHH Regulations 2002 in the UK and the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 in Ireland require you to do this. It is not optional, and it is not just paperwork. Occupational dermatitis ends careers. Persulphate-induced asthma is irreversible. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen. The assessments exist to prevent these outcomes.

If you are unsure where to start, our complete COSHH assessment guide covers the fundamentals. For broader salon health and safety, see our health and safety guide for beauty salons. And for a general risk assessment covering your premises and operations, our beauty salon risk assessment template will help you get the rest of your compliance in order.

Start with the products you use most — hair dye, bleach, peroxide, and your disinfectant. Get the SDS for each one, work through the assessment steps in this guide, and write them up. Then work through the rest of your product list. It is not glamorous work, but it is the work that keeps you, your staff, and your business safe.