New Government Guidance Ahead of England Hair Salons Reopening

Recently, the UK Government revealed their new official guidance for the reopening of hair salons, hairdressers and barbers in England from 12 April 2021. The new guidance they have issued covers nine key topics that will be recognisable from previous guidance they provided, along with three additional elements that will be essential reading before you reopen your business.

Changed in the latest UK Government guidance for hair salons and hairdressers reopening in England

The latest UK Government guidance issued for hair salons and hairdressers preparing for reopening in England on 12 April 2021includes new information on the following topics:

• Ventilation
• Tests
• New requirements for NHS Test and Trace

Click here for the full new official UK Government Guidance for England hair salons, hair businesses and barbershops and barbering businesses ahead of reopening on 12 April 2021.  

Things you need to know about the UK Government guidance on ventilation ahead of reopening your hair business in England

The new UK Government guidance on ventilation states:

VENTILATION SHOULD BE USED AS A CONTROL MEASURE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AEROSOL TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 IN ENCLOSED SPACES. VENTILATION WILL NOT REDUCE THE RISK OF DROPLET OR SURFACE TRANSMISSION, SO OTHER CONTROL MEASURES SUCH AS CLEANING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE ALSO REQUIRED.

The suggestions they provide for improving ventilation within a hairdressing salon setting include the following:

• Mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts
• Natural ventilation using openings such as doors, windows, vents
• A combination of mechanical and natural ventilation.

There is additional information from the HSE online at  guidance on ventilation and air conditioning so you can take the necessary steps to improve the ventilation of your hair salon or barbershop.

Things you should know about the UK Government guidance on tests ahead of reopening

The new UK Government guidance on tests states:

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION, INCLUDING MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING, FREQUENT CLEANING, GOOD HYGIENE AND ADEQUATE VENTILATION, EVEN IF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE:

• RECEIVED A RECENT NEGATIVE TEST RESULT

• HAD THE VACCINE (EITHER 1 OR 2 DOSES)

This guidance explains that if you are providing testing within your hair salon or barbershop you will need to make sure that the testing is carried out in a safe manner and in an appropriate setting where control measures are in place to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission during the testing process.

These control measures include:

• Maintaining social distancing where possible
• Frequent cleaning
• Good hygiene
• Adequate ventilation
• Plus, giving individuals awaiting their test result an appropriate place to stay while the test is being processed.

Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms is entitled to a free NHS test and you can order rapid lateral flow tests, which can be used to test employees even if they are displaying no COVID-19 symptoms.

The rapid lateral flow test kits are free of charge for businesses registered in England and for employees who cannot work from home until 30 June 2021. However, you must register by 11.59pm on 12 April 2021. Click here to find out how to register right now. 

Employees can also get their own lateral flow tests from a local test site. Click here for more information on local test sites near you. 

Things you should know about the new requirements for NHS Test and Trace ahead of hair salons reopening in England

The new UK Government guidance for NHS Test and Trace for when your hair salon or hair/barbering business reopens in England is to:

1. Display the official NHS QR code poster. Official NHS QR posters can be generated online.
2. Ask every client or visitor aged 16 and over to check in to your venue or provide their contact details. Individuals can check in quickly and easily using the NHS COVID-19 app to scan in the NHS QR code poster.
3. Have a system in place to ensure you can collect information from clients and visitors who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app. You must keep this data for 21 days and provide it to NHS Test and Trace, if requested. Click here to check what data you need to collect and how it should be managed.

As most businesses that take bookings ahead of time, including hair salon and barbering businesses, they will have systems for recording this information already. If you have these existing systems in place, these systems may be an effective means of collecting contact details for the purpose of NHS Test and Trace.

The guidance stresses the importance on following the rules for NHS and Test and Trace. It states:

ANY BUSINESS FOUND NOT TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL PENALTIES. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, AND TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN.

​ Click here to find out more about the NHS Test and Trace requirements.​

Additional topics covered in the UK Government guidance

The new guidance for hair salons and hairdressers based in England also covers information on the following nine topics:

1. Thinking about risk
2. Keeping clients and visitors safe
3. Who should go to work
4. Social distancing for workers
5. Cleaning the workplace
6. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
7. Workplace management
8. Inbound and outbound goods
9. Tests and vaccinations

Click here for the full new official UK Government Guidance for England hair salons, hair businesses and barbershops and barbering businesses ahead of reopening on 12 April 2021.