As a salon owner, you understand the importance of carrying insurance for a variety of situations. Your focus might be on the risk of injury to your customers, but it is important that you realize there is also a risk of injury to your employees. As such, you should make sure you have a solid workers' comp insurance plan in place.

Common Risks Associated with Salon Employees

Working at a salon might not seem like a hazardous job, but employees are at risk of numerous injuries, including:

• Slips and falls
• Cuts
• Burns
• Scrapes
• Chemical exposure (ingestion or accidental exposure to sensitive areas such as the mouth and eyes)

Burn Injury Risks

Most commonly employees face the dangers of burn risks because of the equipment they use. Common equipment used in salons that can cause burn injuries include:

• Flat irons/curlers
• Blow dryers
• Wax heaters

Misuse of equipment, defective equipment, and failure to follow proper procedures can cause injuries resulting from minor to serious burns. A novice employee who has not received proper training is also at risk of injury. As such, you should know employees who sustain injuries may wish to file a workers' compensation claim. Your best approach is to arm yourself with a workers' compensation plan that addresses such issues before you find yourself facing an expensive lawsuit.

Risk of Bloodborne Pathogens

Believe it or not, salon workers are also at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. If your salon offers nail services, you should make sure you have a comprehensive workers' comp plan in place. Your goal should be to protect your employees if they sustain any injuries or become exposed to bloodborne pathogens.

The most common bloodborne pathogens nail salon workers may be exposed to include:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV

There is also the risk of exposure to fungal and bacterial infections as well as viruses. Nail salon techs work with the nails on both the hands and feet of clients. By touching the skin of an infected client, nail techs risk possible exposure and illness, which can lead to a workers' compensation claim.

Reducing the Risks

Make sure you instruct your employees to:

• Wear gloves always when coming in direct contact with a client's skin
• Wash hands thoroughly using soap and water before and after working with a client
• Clean all tools before and after use
• Use proper disinfectant on tools and work areas
• Properly store chemicals
• Test tools prior to use to make sure they are not defective

Most importantly, talk to a professional about a comprehensive workers' compensation plan in place in the event your employees sustain any injuries. 

For more information, contact a local company like Tucker Insurance Agency.