Shelter-in-place procedures protect salon occupants when evacuation would expose them to greater danger than remaining inside the building. Situations that require sheltering in place include external chemical releases, hazardous material spills on nearby roadways, severe weather events, and certain security threats. OSHA's emergency action plan standard at 29 CFR 1910.38 requires employers to plan for emergencies where employees remain in the building, and shelter-in-place is a critical component of that planning. Staff trained on shelter-in-place procedures know when to remain inside, how to seal the building, and how to protect occupants until the threat passes. This guide covers shelter-in-place training for salon staff.
Evacuation is the default emergency response for most workplace situations. However, evacuating into an external hazard can be more dangerous than remaining inside. When a chemical plant releases toxic gases, a tanker truck overturns on a nearby highway spilling hazardous materials, or an industrial fire produces toxic smoke, the outdoor air becomes the hazard. Moving people from the salon into contaminated air exposes them to chemical inhalation, skin contact, and eye irritation that they would have been protected from inside the building.
Salons face additional complexity because they use HVAC systems that draw outdoor air into the building. Without proper shelter-in-place procedures, contaminated outdoor air enters the salon through ventilation systems, open doors, and building gaps. Simply staying inside without sealing the building may not provide adequate protection from airborne hazards.
The decision to shelter in place versus evacuate must be made quickly and correctly. Incorrect decisions have severe consequences in either direction. Evacuating when shelter-in-place is appropriate exposes people to the hazard. Sheltering in place when evacuation is appropriate traps people in a building that may become unsafe. Training helps employees understand the criteria for each decision and execute the appropriate response without delay.
Most employees have experience with fire drills and evacuation procedures but little or no training on shelter-in-place procedures. This training gap means that when shelter-in-place is the correct response, employees may default to evacuation because it is the only emergency response they have practiced.
Shelter-in-place requirements come from OSHA standards, EPA emergency planning, and local emergency management authorities.
OSHA emergency action plan requirements at 29 CFR 1910.38 require employers to address the actions employees must take during workplace emergencies, including situations where employees remain in the building to operate critical functions or to protect themselves from external hazards.
EPA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements establish local emergency planning committees that develop emergency response plans for chemical releases in the community. These plans may include shelter-in-place guidance for businesses in areas near chemical facilities or transportation routes.
Local emergency management agencies issue shelter-in-place orders during hazardous material incidents and provide guidance on shelter-in-place procedures for commercial buildings. Businesses are expected to comply with these orders and to have procedures in place for implementation.
OSHA hazard communication requirements at 29 CFR 1910.1200 are relevant to shelter-in-place scenarios involving chemical releases because employees must understand the hazards of the chemicals they may be exposed to and the protective measures available.
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Emergency preparedness reflects the comprehensive safety planning that the MmowW assessment evaluates. Salons with shelter-in-place procedures are prepared for a broader range of emergencies.
Identify whether your salon is located near chemical facilities, industrial operations, or major transportation routes where hazardous material incidents could occur. Determine whether your HVAC system can be shut off quickly. Check whether you have supplies to seal doors, windows, and ventilation openings. Verify that employees know the difference between shelter-in-place and evacuation and when each is appropriate. Review whether your emergency action plan includes shelter-in-place procedures.
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Try it free →Step 1: Assess Shelter-in-Place Risks and Capabilities
Identify the external hazards that could require shelter-in-place at your salon location. Research nearby industrial facilities, chemical storage sites, and major transportation routes for hazardous materials. Contact your local emergency management agency to determine whether your salon is in a hazardous materials planning zone. Assess your building's ability to serve as a shelter by evaluating the number and size of windows and doors, the type of HVAC system and ability to shut it down, the availability of interior rooms without windows, and the general tightness of the building envelope. Document these findings to guide your shelter-in-place planning.
Step 2: Identify the Shelter Room and Gather Supplies
Select the best room in the salon for shelter-in-place. The ideal room is an interior space with no windows, or the fewest windows, that can accommodate all likely occupants. The room should have a phone line or cell phone reception for communication with emergency services. Pre-position shelter-in-place supplies in or near this room, including plastic sheeting pre-cut to fit windows and vents, duct tape for sealing edges, wet towels for sealing door gaps, a battery-powered radio for monitoring emergency broadcasts, flashlights and batteries, water, first aid supplies, and a list of emergency phone numbers. Label the supplies clearly and check them periodically to ensure they remain available and in usable condition.
Step 3: Develop Written Shelter-in-Place Procedures
Create step-by-step procedures for implementing shelter-in-place. When a shelter-in-place order is received or conditions warrant sheltering, employees should bring all clients and visitors inside the salon immediately. Close and lock all doors and windows. Shut off the HVAC system to prevent drawing contaminated air inside. Close all fireplace dampers and exhaust fans. Seal windows, doors, and ventilation openings with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Place wet towels at the base of doors. Move all occupants to the designated shelter room. Monitor emergency broadcasts for updates and instructions on when it is safe to end shelter-in-place.
Step 4: Train on Decision-Making Criteria
Train employees on when to shelter in place versus when to evacuate. Shelter-in-place is appropriate when an external chemical release, hazardous material spill, or toxic smoke is present in the outdoor air, or when emergency management authorities issue a shelter-in-place order. Evacuation is appropriate when the hazard is inside the building, such as a fire, gas leak, or structural failure. If employees are uncertain, they should contact emergency services for guidance. Train employees to recognize the signs of an external chemical release, including unusual odors, visible chemical clouds or vapors, emergency vehicle activity near chemical facilities, and emergency alert notifications. Emphasize that shelter-in-place orders from authorities should be followed immediately without waiting for the hazard to become apparent.
Step 5: Train on Client Communication and Management
Train employees on how to communicate the shelter-in-place situation to clients. Clients who are unfamiliar with shelter-in-place procedures may be confused or alarmed. Explain calmly that an external situation requires everyone to remain inside the building for safety. Direct clients to the shelter room and assist those who need help moving. Bring any clients or passersby who are outside the salon entrance inside if conditions permit and the hazard has not yet reached the immediate area. Once sealed in the shelter room, keep clients informed using information from emergency broadcasts. Discourage clients from opening doors or windows to check conditions outside. If clients insist on leaving despite the shelter-in-place order, inform them of the risk but do not physically restrain them.
Step 6: Practice and Maintain Readiness
Conduct a shelter-in-place drill at least annually. Practice the complete sequence from notification through sealing the building and moving to the shelter room. Time the drill to measure how quickly the salon can be sealed. Practice shutting off the HVAC system and sealing windows and vents. After the drill, debrief to identify improvements. Check shelter-in-place supplies quarterly to ensure plastic sheeting, tape, and other materials are present and in good condition. Replace batteries in the emergency radio and flashlights on a regular schedule. Update procedures when the salon layout changes or when new information about local hazards becomes available. Document all drills and training with dates, participants, and observations.
The duration of a shelter-in-place event varies widely depending on the type of incident. A chemical release from a nearby facility or transportation accident may require sheltering for one to several hours while the hazardous material dissipates or is contained. Some incidents resolve within 30 minutes if wind conditions disperse the chemical quickly. Others may last several hours if the release is large or ongoing. In rare cases, shelter-in-place may extend overnight if the hazard persists. The salon should be prepared for a shelter-in-place duration of at least four to six hours, which means having adequate water, access to restroom facilities, and a means of monitoring emergency broadcasts for the all-clear notification. If the situation extends beyond several hours, emergency management authorities will typically arrange for evacuation assistance. During the shelter-in-place period, maintain communication with emergency services for updates and follow all instructions regarding when it is safe to unseal the building and resume normal activities.
Most salon HVAC systems are not designed for shelter-in-place protection, but several measures can improve their performance during chemical release events. The most critical capability is the ability to shut off the HVAC system quickly to prevent drawing contaminated air into the building. Ensure that all employees know the location of the HVAC system controls and how to turn the system completely off, including fans that may continue running on a separate circuit. Some HVAC systems have a recirculation mode that closes the outdoor air intake while continuing to circulate indoor air. If your system has this capability, using recirculation mode provides continued air movement without introducing contaminated outdoor air. More advanced HVAC modifications include installing chemical filtration capable of removing certain airborne contaminants, adding motorized dampers on outdoor air intakes that can be closed remotely, and installing air quality monitors that detect certain chemicals. These modifications are typically most relevant for salons located very close to chemical facilities and represent a significant investment that should be evaluated based on the specific risk level.
If employees detect unusual chemical odors but no official shelter-in-place order has been issued, they should take several immediate steps. First, do not go outside to investigate the source of the odor, as this could expose you to the hazardous material. Close the salon's doors and windows immediately as a precaution. Shut off the HVAC system to prevent drawing potentially contaminated air inside. Call 911 or the local emergency number to report the odor and request guidance on whether to shelter in place or evacuate. Monitor emergency broadcasts and official notifications for information about the incident. If the odor becomes strong or employees or clients begin experiencing symptoms such as eye irritation, difficulty breathing, nausea, or dizziness, move everyone to the interior shelter room and begin sealing procedures while waiting for official guidance. If symptoms are severe, call 911 immediately and request medical assistance. Do not wait for an official shelter-in-place order before taking protective action if the situation appears immediately dangerous. Document the incident including the time the odor was first noticed, the apparent intensity and duration, any symptoms experienced, and the actions taken.
Shelter-in-place training prepares your salon for emergencies where staying inside is safer than going out. Evaluate your salon's safety practices with the free hygiene assessment tool and build your shelter-in-place readiness 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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