Skin Penetration and Beauty Salons

Unsafe or unhygienic premises and procedures can affect the health of staff and clients, and can help spread infectious disease.

Skin penetration procedures include:

  • Acupuncture;
  • Beauty treatments;
  • Blood cholesterol and glucose measurement;
  • Body, nose, and ear piercing;
  • Cosmetic enhancements;
  • Colonic lavage;
  • Corn planning;
  • Cuticle cutting;
  • Lancets;
  • Scarification; and
  • Tattooing.

Hairdressing

Infection can occur through equipment such as razors, scissors, combs, clippers etc. Infection can spread when equipment hasn’t been adequately cleaned or disinfected between clients; or when fixtures/fittings are not kept in a hygienic condition.

Mobile Operators

Mobile businesses must write to Council seeking approval to operate. The intention of the application is to demonstrate in detail your knowledge and understanding of all relevant requirements.

Careful consideration will be given to each application.

Skin Penetration/Beauty Salons

Before you start operating your business you are required to:

  • Provide Council with all relevant details of the business including name and address of the business and owner; nature of the business
  • Ensure you liaise with Council’s Environmental Health Officer (Public Health) whilst considering how the premises is going to be set out and to have a final inspection carried out prior to the operation of the business.
  • Ensure persons undertaking or supervising the procedures have skills and knowledge in line with their work activities. Staff need to understand why and how to minimise the risk of disease transfer from client to operator, operator to client and client to client.

Resources

The NSW Health Environmental Health Brach has information on hairdressing and all skin penetration procedures. The information provided includes legislation, guidelines, code of best practice, factsheets, an audit tool and a presentation on disease risks from unsafe skin penetration.

Wyong Shire Council has adopted the Hunter Regional Health Education Committee’s Guidelines for the Construction and Operation of Hairdressing, Beauty and Skin Penetration Premises. The Code is based on the requirements of the Public Health Act 1991, Public Health (Skin Penetration) Regulation 2000 and the NSW Department of Health Skin Penetration Guidelines and Code of Best Practice.

The Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 sets standards for hairdressing shops and beauty salons structural and hygiene requirements, and facilities within.