PPE and the Aesthetic Industry
As beauty salons, PMU clinics and aesthetic practitioners resume work this week, questions over personal protection and safe working environments prevail. One of the most effective ways to combat the spread of COVID-19 is to adhere to social distancing guidelines. However, to carry out beauty procedures at a safe social distance is not always possible. That is why wearing suitable PPE is now essential, whether you are at home, in the salon or on the move.
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) does exactly what it says on the tin; protects an individual from health and safety risks whilst at work. PPE essentially creates a barrier between a person’s skin, mouth, nose, and eyes and potentially invasive viral and/or bacterial infections.
PPE can often be extremely effective in stopping the transmission of viral infections. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ‘when used properly with other infection control practices such as hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes, [PPE] minimizes the spread of infection from one person to another’.
As a result, to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spreading during beauty procedures, PPE is one of the most effective tools available to all practitioners.
What PPE Do Aesthetic Practitioners Need to Wear?
According to new government guidelines, aesthetic practitioners must ensure that that are wearing well-fitted, good quality PPE.
The guidelines state that ‘in workplaces such as hairdressers and barbers, beauty salons and tattoo and photoshoot studios, it is likely to be difficult to maintain social distancing, as employees need to work in close proximity to their clients, usually for an extended period of time.’
Therefore, the practitioner providing the service should wear a clear visor that covers the whole face (including the sides) and extends below the chin area. This PPE visor must be worn at all times. This visor will effectively provide a barrier between the practitioner and the client, protecting both from respiratory droplets that result from sneezing, coughing, or speaking.
The PPE visor must always be worn properly during a close contact procedure and if, reusable, should be cleaned and sanitised regularly.
Government guidelines also state that a Type II face mask should be worn alongside the clear visor. Whilst Type II face masks are not considered PPE, they can help to create physical barrier between the client and practitioner, effectively minimising contamination of the nose and mouth.
For extra precautions, we would also recommend that all beauty technicians wear medical-grade gloves and an apron whilst performing close-contact procedures.
Will Wearing a Clear Visor Protect Practitioners from Contracting COVID-19?
Whilst wearing a plastic visor may reduce a person’s chance of catching COVID-19, the possibility of viral transmission remains a threat.
According to government guidelines:
“In instances where you are contacted via the [NHS] test and trace service, having been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will still need to self-isolate even if you are wearing a visor at work. This is because the risk of transmission cannot be ruled out, even if wearing a visor reduces that risk.”
Do Clients Need to Wear PPE During a Close Contact Procedure?
Growing evidence has suggested that wearing a face covering indoors can help minimise the spread of COVID-19. According to a statement issued by the government, ‘a face covering can be very simple and just needs to cover the nose and mouth’.
As result of recent evidence, from 8th August 2020, the government made face masks mandatory for all clients visiting nail, beauty, and hair salons; barbers; massage parlours; tattoo and piercing parlours. Face coverings must be worn at all times unless the client is undergoing a facial treatment.
Here at Cosmedic Supplies, we sell high-quality PPE for aesthetic machinery. Check out our website to find out more!
PPE all supplied by Discounted PPE
