Your EnvironmentBody Art, Salons & Spas

Businesses that offer haircuts, manicures, facials, hair removal, ear or body piercings, and tattoos are known as personal service settings.

Personal services can pose a risk of blood-borne, bacterial, and fungal infections for clients and staff because there is a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids. Improper infection prevention and control techniques could result in illness or infections. Remember that you may not be able to see contamination like blood or bodily fluids that can cause illness or disease.

Public Health Inspectors make sure that personal service settings are safe by:

Conducting regular inspections to make sure they comply with regulations.
Investigating complaints and cases of illness or infection.
Educating personal service workers on infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices.

Report a Concern

If you have a health concern about a personal service setting, contact us to make a report. Please include the following information so we can respond appropriately to your concern:

The name and location of the premises (if applicable).
A description of the health concern.
The date you observed the concern.
A phone number or email address where you can be contacted.

Report a Complaint

For the Public

Anyone receiving a personal service is at risk of illness or infection if the personal service setting does not take basic precautions such as washing hands, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and tools, discarding single-use disposable equipment, etc.

If you think you contracted an infection at a personal service setting, see your health care provider. It is important to avoid salon and spa services if you have a rash or infection to prevent others from getting sick.

Before getting any personal service, check for the service’s inspection report on Check it CK.
Ask staff any questions you have about the service you are getting. Staff should be comfortable with this and answer your questions.
Many services require the provider to review before and aftercare instructions with you and may require you to fill out some waiver or consent forms. Ensure you provide accurate information on those forms as you may need to be contacted by Public Health if there was an issue with the service provided.

If you have concerns about infection prevention and control practices in a personal service setting, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some things to look for:

Is the establishment clean, well-lit and organized?
Are tools, work surfaces, and equipment in good repair (e.g. no rust or cracks, etc.)?
Are tools and supplies stored in a clean area?
Has the person providing your service washed their hands?
Have tools been cleaned and disinfected between clients?
Have single use tools been thrown away after use?
Have the sheets, towels, robes, or paper liners been replaced for each new client?
Has the provider reviewed before and after care instructions with you?
Have sterilized tools or jewelry been opened in front of you?

If you are uncomfortable with anything you see or hear, do not be afraid to refuse the service and contact CK Public Health to report your concerns.

For Operators

As an operator of a personal services setting, you have a responsibility to protect your clients and yourself from the risk of infections. Public Health Inspectors from the CK Public Health will inspect your business as least once a year to make sure best practices for infection control are being followed.

Operators of personal service settings and staff are encouraged to review the Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings from Public Health Ontario. This guide details service specific best practices that reduce the risk of infection for staff and clients.

Operators can also complete online IPAC training for personal service settings at no cost through the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Your EnvironmentBody Art, Salons & Spas

Report a Concern

For the Public

For Operators

Inspections & Enforcement

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CK Public Health

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