Back disorders are a common complaint in beauty parlours. The risks of contamination and the transmission of diseases should not be dismissed either. Centre de Soins Esthétiques adopted various solutions to deal with these problems. The task
The work carried out in a beauty parlour (massages, body care, hair removal) frequently requires leaning over to look after customers who are lying on a massage table or an aesthetic chair for hair removal or facial or body treatment. Beauticians work in close proximity to clients' faces and frequently come into contact with their skin.
The job consists of repetitive work, 8 hours a day.
The risks
Two major kinds of risk can be said to exist:
- risks involving cervical or back disorders due to leaning;
- risks involving contamination from blood, germs, and skin diseases transmitted through skin contact or via the air.
The methodology and solution
The extended absence from work of a colleague suffering from lumbago, followed by a therapeutic "recovery" period of working part-time, led to planning problems and a loss in profits. To solve this, the enterprise purchased a sit/stand ergonomic chair and additional mattresses to raise the height of the massage tables.
In addition, the use of disposable gloves and masks was recommended for certain treatments in order to prevent the risk of contamination via the air or through skin contact.
The effectiveness of the results
The measures taken by the company put an end to their problems with lumbago and contamination.
The solutions were not very expensive and could be implemented by any company within that sector.
The employee participation
Employees were involved from the start in looking for solutions and in the thought process. The measures were implemented following a meeting with the employees.
The costs and benefits
Since the company implemented the solutions, the beauticians have not had to take time off work for these problems. Similarly, the disappearance of back troubles means that they are more available for the customers. The solutions implemented have broadly contributed to an improvement in service. They have also improved the working relations between colleagues. This is because within a small structure the absence of an employee inevitably leads to an increased workload for the others.
| Entrepreneur's Testimony
"The business has committed itself to improving working conditions and to preventing hazards to the health and safety of its employees (with their consent and participation). What has been done, has been done for the interest of the company and the people who work there " |
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