Chemical hazard assessment is the systematic process of identifying the chemical hazards present in your salon, evaluating the risk they pose to workers and clients, and determining the control measures needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Without assessment, chemical safety decisions are based on assumption and habit rather than evidence. With proper assessment tools, salon operators can prioritize their safety investments, justify their control measures, and demonstrate to regulators that their chemical management approach is based on systematic evaluation rather than guesswork. This guide covers the assessment tools and methods most applicable to salon operations, how to use them effectively, and how to translate assessment results into practical safety improvements.
Many salons manage chemicals reactively rather than proactively. Products are used because they have always been used. Safety measures are implemented because they are required rather than because a specific risk has been identified and evaluated. When a new product is introduced, it is evaluated for performance quality but rarely for its hazard profile relative to the product it replaces.
This approach creates several problems. Resources may be directed toward low-risk chemicals while higher-risk exposures receive inadequate attention. Safety measures may be insufficient for the actual hazard level or excessive for chemicals that present minimal risk. When regulatory inspectors ask how the salon determined that its chemical safety measures are adequate, there is no documented assessment to reference.
Chemical hazard assessment provides the foundation for rational chemical safety management. It identifies which chemicals present the greatest risk, which workers have the highest exposure, and which control measures are most important. It transforms chemical safety from a compliance checkbox into a risk-based management system that allocates resources where they have the greatest impact.
Workplace safety regulations in most jurisdictions require employers to conduct risk assessments for chemical hazards present in the workplace. These assessments must identify the chemicals workers are exposed to, evaluate the nature and degree of the risk, determine the control measures needed to protect workers, and be documented and made available to workers and regulatory authorities. Assessments must be reviewed and updated when new chemicals are introduced, when work processes change, when new hazard information becomes available, or when incidents suggest that the existing assessment is inadequate.
The assessment must consider both health hazards from chemical exposure and physical hazards from chemical properties such as flammability or reactivity. Control measures identified through the assessment must follow the hierarchy of controls, prioritizing elimination and substitution over engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
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The MmowW hygiene assessment provides an immediate evaluation of your salon's chemical safety practices, serving as a practical starting point for identifying areas that need more detailed hazard assessment.
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Try it free →Step 1: Compile Your Chemical Inventory
Begin with a complete inventory of every chemical product used in your salon. Include professional service products such as hair color, developers, permanent wave solutions, relaxers, keratin treatments, and nail products. Include cleaning and disinfection products, and any other chemical products used in the course of salon operations. For each product, obtain the current Safety Data Sheet and record the product name, manufacturer, intended use, and the quantities typically used.
Step 2: Extract Hazard Information From Safety Data Sheets
Review the Safety Data Sheet for each product to identify the chemical hazards present. Section 2 of the SDS provides the GHS hazard classification and the specific hazard statements. Section 8 provides occupational exposure limits if they exist for the product's ingredients. Section 11 provides toxicological information about the health effects of exposure. Record the key hazard information for each product in a summary format that allows comparison across products. Pay particular attention to chemicals classified as carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, respiratory sensitizers, or skin sensitizers, as these represent the most serious chronic health hazards.
Step 3: Evaluate Exposure Conditions
For each chemical product, assess the conditions under which workers are exposed. Consider the frequency and duration of use, meaning how often the product is used and for how long during each use. Consider the route of exposure, whether through inhalation, skin contact, or eye contact. Consider the concentration of the product as used, noting that some products are diluted before use. Consider the ventilation conditions in the area where the product is used, and the personal protective equipment available and in use. Exposure conditions determine whether the inherent hazard of the chemical translates into actual risk for workers.
Step 4: Rate the Risk Level for Each Chemical
Combine the hazard severity and exposure assessment to rate the overall risk level for each chemical product. A simple risk matrix rates hazard severity from low to high based on the SDS hazard classification and rates exposure likelihood from low to high based on the frequency, duration, and conditions of use. The combination produces a risk rating that allows comparison and prioritization. High-hazard chemicals used frequently with significant exposure warrant the highest priority for control measures. Lower-hazard chemicals used infrequently with minimal exposure may require only basic precautions.
Step 5: Determine Required Control Measures
For each chemical risk identified, determine the control measures needed following the hierarchy of controls. First consider whether the chemical can be eliminated from use entirely. If not, consider whether a less hazardous substitute is available. If substitution is not feasible, consider engineering controls such as ventilation. Then consider administrative controls such as procedures that limit exposure duration. Finally, specify the personal protective equipment required when other controls are insufficient. Document the control measures determined for each chemical, including the rationale for the level of control selected.
Step 6: Implement and Communicate Assessment Results
Put the assessment results into practice by implementing the control measures identified, training staff on the specific chemical hazards in their work areas and the control measures required, posting summary chemical hazard information at relevant workstations, and updating your written chemical safety program to reflect the assessment findings. The assessment is only valuable if it changes practice. An assessment that identifies risks but does not result in implemented controls serves no safety purpose.
Step 7: Review and Update the Assessment
Schedule periodic reviews of your chemical hazard assessment, at least annually and whenever triggering events occur. Triggering events include the introduction of new chemical products, changes in how products are used or the conditions of use, new hazard information from manufacturers or regulatory agencies, chemical-related incidents or complaints, changes in staffing that affect exposure patterns, and regulatory changes that affect assessment requirements. Each review should verify that the assessment remains current and that control measures remain adequate for the risks identified.
Chemical hazard assessment does not require toxicology expertise. The Safety Data Sheet provides the hazard information for each product in a standardized format that any literate person can read and interpret. The GHS hazard pictograms and signal words on product labels provide immediate hazard identification without technical interpretation. Industry associations and regulatory agencies provide simplified risk assessment templates designed for small businesses that guide users through the assessment process step by step. The MmowW hygiene assessment tool provides an accessible starting point that identifies chemical safety areas needing attention. For salons that want additional support, occupational safety consultants and some regulatory agencies offer free or low-cost consultation services for small businesses. The key is to start with the information already available, apply a systematic approach, and document the results rather than attempting a complex technical analysis that the situation does not require.
The chemicals that typically score highest in salon risk assessments are those that combine significant health hazards with high exposure frequency. Hair color products containing oxidative dye chemicals, particularly those with ammonia or ethanolamine, score high due to frequent use, skin contact potential, and inhalation exposure during mixing and application. Keratin treatments containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals receive high ratings due to the serious health hazards associated with formaldehyde exposure during heat activation. Nail product chemicals including methacrylate monomers, organic solvents, and acrylate adhesives score high due to respiratory and skin sensitization hazards combined with close-proximity exposure. Concentrated disinfectants containing glutaraldehyde or quaternary ammonium compounds at high concentrations rate high during preparation and use. Bleaching products combining oxidizers with alkaline powders rate high due to both skin contact hazards and particulate inhalation during mixing.
Chemical hazard assessment provides the objective basis for product substitution decisions. When the assessment identifies a high-risk chemical product, the natural follow-up question is whether a lower-risk alternative exists that can perform the same function. By comparing the hazard classifications and risk ratings of alternative products using the same assessment framework, salon operators can make substitution decisions based on evidence rather than marketing claims. A product marketed as safer should demonstrate a lower hazard classification in its Safety Data Sheet compared to the product it replaces. The assessment framework makes these comparisons systematic and documented, supporting both safety improvement and regulatory compliance with the duty to reduce chemical risks where reasonably practicable.
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