Health and Safety in the Beauty and Aesthetics Industry
Guidance on maintaining responsible health and safety standards in health and beauty settings.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, all businesses have a general duty of care to any employees and customers. In addition to general health and safety requirements, businesses must ensure procedures, equipment and facilities are safe, hygienic and prevent the spread of infection.
In addition to beauty and aesthetics specific guidance, some of which is outlined below, you can find information on general workplace health and safety requirements on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website .
Licensing Requirements
Skin Piercing Registration
Anyone carrying out any of the below activities must be registered:
Both the practitioner and the premises must be registered. All premises and practices must meet the byelaw requirements. For more information on registration requirements and the byelaws, please see our Licensing section: Tattooing / Piercing / Electrolysis / Acupuncture
Further guidance for skin piercers can be found below.
NEW - Licensing of Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures
The Health and Care Act became law in England on the 1st July, 2022. This Act places responsibility on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to introduce Secondary Legislation to support the design and implementation of the new non-surgical cosmetics licence.
Details of a new licensing regime are yet to be finalised. However, details on the consultation, made under the previous government, can be found here: The licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England - GOV.UK
Tattooing, Skin Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis
For skin piercing practices requiring registration, in addition to the byelaws the premises and practices will be inspected in accordance with:
Sunbeds
There are health risks associated with using ultraviolet (UV) tanning equipment. These health risks include skin cancer, cataracts, premature ageing of the skin, sunburnt skin, dryness and itching, bumpy rashes, and eye irritation/conjunctivitis.
Under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, there is a duty on anyone involved in carrying on a sunbed business to ensure that no person under the age of 18 years uses a sunbed, is offered the use of a sunbed or is present in a restricted zone. For more information on these regulations, please visit the Department of Health guidance: Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 Information for Sunbed Businesses.
COSHH
Many materials or substances used or created at work could harm your health. These substances could be dusts, gases or fumes that you breathe in, or liquids, gels or powders that come into contact with your eyes or skin. There could also be harmful micro-organisms present that can cause infection, an allergic reaction or are toxic.
Cleaning chemicals, hair dyes, acrylic vapour, dust filings to name a few; in the beauty industry, there can be many substances in use with the potential to harm. Ill health caused by these substances used at work is preventable. Many substances can harm health but, used properly, they almost never do.
DERMATITIS
Dermatitis and other skin problems can be caused by the skin coming into contact with chemicals, like shampoos and cleaning products or with frequent contact with water.
Signs can be redness, itching, scaling and blistering. If it gets worse the skin can crack and bleed. Hands and arms are most commonly affected but dermatitis can spread to other parts the body.
It can be bad enough to keep you off work and serious enough to force you to change jobs. If it is spotted early and adequate precautions are taken, most people will make a full recovery. But some people can be affected for life.
Public Protection Contact