Salons in seismically active regions face unique risks during earthquakes. Heavy mirrors, shelving units loaded with products, chemical containers, heat-generating tools, and sharp instruments all become hazards when shaking occurs. Clients in vulnerable positions at shampoo bowls, under hooded dryers, or with chemical treatments in progress require immediate assistance. OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards, and earthquake preparedness is a component of that obligation in seismically active areas. This guide covers earthquake preparedness training for salon staff.
Salons contain numerous items that become dangerous during seismic events. Wall-mounted mirrors can shatter and fall, causing lacerations. Freestanding shelving units loaded with heavy product bottles can topple onto employees and clients. Chemical containers can fall and break, releasing hazardous materials. Hot styling tools can fall from stations onto people or combustible materials. Glass containers, including those holding disinfecting solutions, can break and create both laceration and chemical exposure hazards.
The physical positions of clients during salon services increase their vulnerability. Clients reclined at shampoo bowls have limited mobility and may be disoriented when shaking begins. Clients seated under hooded dryers may not hear verbal instructions. Clients with chemical treatments in their hair face the additional concern of chemical exposure if the treatment cannot be properly removed after the earthquake. Clients in pedicure chairs with their feet in water basins face electrical shock risks if water contacts damaged electrical connections.
Most salon employees have not received specific training on earthquake response in their professional education. Cosmetology school curricula rarely include natural disaster preparedness. Without salon-specific earthquake training, staff members may freeze during an earthquake, fail to protect themselves and their clients, or take actions that increase rather than decrease risk. In regions where earthquakes are common, this training gap represents a significant safety deficiency.
Building infrastructure also plays a role. Older salon buildings may lack seismic upgrades. Suspended ceiling tiles can fall during moderate shaking. Water damage from broken pipes can create electrical hazards and slip risks after the initial shaking stops. Gas line damage can create fire and explosion risks.
Earthquake preparedness requirements come from OSHA, state occupational safety programs, and local building codes.
OSHA's General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. In seismically active regions, earthquake hazards are recognized hazards that require mitigation and employee training.
Emergency action plan requirements at 29 CFR 1910.38 apply to earthquake response as one type of workplace emergency. The plan must address evacuation procedures, emergency reporting, accounting for personnel, and rescue and medical duties. Earthquake response should be incorporated into the salon's emergency action plan.
State requirements vary significantly based on seismic risk. California requires earthquake preparedness elements in workplace injury and illness prevention programs. Washington state includes earthquake preparedness in its workplace safety and health standards. Other seismically active states may have similar requirements through their state OSHA plans.
Local building codes may require nonstructural hazard mitigation, such as securing water heaters, anchoring tall furniture and shelving, and installing safety film on mirrors and glass. Compliance with these building code requirements reduces the hazards that employees and clients face during an earthquake.
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Emergency preparedness reflects the safety management that the MmowW assessment evaluates. Salons that prepare for earthquakes protect staff and clients from preventable injuries.
Walk through your salon and identify items that could fall, slide, break, or spill during an earthquake. Check whether mirrors are secured with safety film or brackets. Verify that tall shelving units are anchored to walls. Confirm that heavy products are stored on lower shelves. Check that chemical containers have secure lids. Verify that employees know the Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure. Assess whether your emergency action plan includes earthquake-specific procedures.
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Try it free →Step 1: Conduct a Nonstructural Hazard Assessment
Identify all items in the salon that could become hazards during an earthquake. Catalog wall-mounted mirrors and check their mounting hardware. Assess freestanding shelving, retail displays, and storage units for tipping potential. Identify chemical storage areas and evaluate container security. Check ceiling-mounted items including light fixtures, fans, and suspended equipment. Document gas connections, water heaters, and plumbing fixtures. Note the locations of electrical panels and circuit breakers. Prioritize hazards based on the likelihood of causing injury.
Step 2: Mitigate Identified Hazards
Secure wall-mounted mirrors with safety film to prevent shattering and with additional mounting hardware to prevent falling. Anchor tall shelving units and retail displays to walls using furniture straps or brackets. Install lip guards on shelves to prevent products from sliding off. Store heavy items on lower shelves and lighter items higher. Ensure chemical containers have secure, leak-proof lids. Secure water heaters with seismic straps. Install flexible connectors on gas appliances. Apply safety film to large glass surfaces.
Step 3: Develop Earthquake Response Procedures
Create written earthquake response procedures specific to your salon. Include the immediate response during shaking, which follows the Drop, Cover, and Hold On protocol. Address how to protect clients in various service positions. Specify procedures for clients at shampoo bowls, under dryers, with chemical treatments, and in pedicure stations. Include post-earthquake procedures for assessing damage, checking for gas leaks, shutting off utilities if needed, evacuating if the building is damaged, and accounting for all employees and clients.
Step 4: Train Staff on Immediate Response
Train all employees on the Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure as the primary earthquake response. During shaking, employees should drop to their hands and knees, take cover under a sturdy table or desk if available, and hold on until shaking stops. Train employees on how to assist clients during shaking, including helping clients at shampoo bowls to sit upright and get under the shampoo station, guiding clients out from under dryers, and moving clients away from mirrors and glass. Emphasize that employees should not run during shaking and should not attempt to hold furniture or equipment in place.
Step 5: Train on Post-Earthquake Procedures
Train employees on actions to take after shaking stops. Check for injuries and provide first aid. Assess the building for structural damage, gas leaks indicated by odor, water leaks, and electrical hazards. If the building appears damaged, evacuate immediately and do not re-enter until cleared by authorities. If gas is smelled, evacuate and call the gas company from outside. Account for all employees and clients at the assembly point. Be prepared for aftershocks. If clients have chemical treatments in process, assess whether it is safe to rinse the chemicals or whether evacuation takes priority based on the severity of damage.
Step 6: Practice and Maintain Preparedness
Conduct earthquake drills at least annually in seismically active regions. Practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure and post-earthquake assessment procedures. Include scenarios with clients in various service positions. Review and update earthquake response procedures after each drill and after any actual earthquake event. Check nonstructural hazard mitigations quarterly to ensure anchors, straps, and safety film remain in good condition. Restock emergency supplies including first aid kits, flashlights, batteries, water, and a battery-powered radio. Document all drills and training with dates, participants, and observations.
When an earthquake occurs during a chemical treatment, the immediate priority is protecting the client from physical injury, not the chemical treatment. During shaking, the stylist should help the client get to a protected position away from mirrors, glass, and falling objects. If a sturdy station or desk is nearby, guide the client underneath it. After shaking stops, assess the building for damage. If the building is safe to remain in, proceed to rinse the chemical treatment as quickly as possible to prevent overprocessing or chemical burns. If the building must be evacuated due to structural damage, gas leaks, or other hazards, evacuate the client as-is with the chemical treatment in place. Wrap the client's hair in a towel or cape to minimize skin contact with the chemical product. Once outside, assess whether water is available to rinse the treatment. If water is not available, contact emergency services for guidance. Document the incident and the chemical product involved for medical personnel. Train staff to communicate calmly with clients during and after the event, explaining each step being taken.
Mirrors and glass represent one of the most significant injury hazards in salons during earthquakes. Safety film applied to the surface of mirrors prevents the glass from shattering into dangerous shards. The film holds broken pieces together, significantly reducing laceration risk. Safety film should be applied to all wall-mounted mirrors, station mirrors, and any other large glass surfaces in the salon. Mirror mounting hardware should be evaluated and upgraded to withstand lateral forces. French cleat mounting systems, security brackets, and adhesive-plus-mechanical mounting combinations provide stronger attachment than standard picture-hanging hardware. Freestanding mirrors should be secured with anti-tip brackets or replaced with wall-mounted alternatives. Consider replacing glass mirrors with shatter-resistant acrylic alternatives in high-risk locations such as waiting areas and children's service areas. Product display shelves with glass shelving should be retrofitted with lip guards to prevent items from sliding off and with shelf restraints to prevent the shelves themselves from falling.
While salons in high-seismic-risk areas such as California, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and parts of the Mountain West have the most urgent need for earthquake preparedness training, all salons benefit from basic seismic awareness. The central United States includes the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which has produced significant earthquakes historically. The eastern seaboard, while lower risk, is not immune to earthquakes. A moderate earthquake in an area with older buildings that lack seismic design features can cause significant damage and injuries. At minimum, all salon employees should know the Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure, understand the basic hazards in their salon during shaking, and know the location of utility shut-offs. In higher-risk areas, comprehensive earthquake preparedness training including nonstructural hazard mitigation, client protection procedures, and regular drills should be standard practice. The level of training investment should be proportional to the seismic risk of the salon's location, but no salon should completely neglect earthquake awareness.
Earthquake preparedness training protects your salon community during one of nature's most unpredictable events. Evaluate your salon's safety practices with the free hygiene assessment tool and build your earthquake preparedness using this guide. For comprehensive salon compliance management, visit MmowW Shampoo. 安全で、愛される。 Loved for Safety.
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