Back to business with the NHBF: four nations FAQs

• The close contact services guidance for Wales. 
• The close contact guidance for Scotland. 
• The close contact services guidance for England. 
• The close contact services guidance for Northern Ireland. 
• England 
• Wales  
• Scotland  
• Northern Ireland  

Rules can vary across the country when lockdowns are imposed. If you have specific questions about your particular area, please contact your local authority. You can find your local authority on the government website. You can also email the Department of Health and Social Care with any queries about local lockdowns: TTDHSCexternalaffairs@dhsc.gov.uk

Find out what financial help is available across the four nations.

Rules for mobile stylists and therapists across the four nations. 

 

 

England                                                         

 

England Operating Guidance FAQs from 27 January 2022

The following applies as set out in the updated guidelines for England: 

Latest guidance here: Shops, branches, and close contact services - Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

*The following FAQs will be updated as soon as the updated guidance is available*

Do I still need to carry out a risk assessment?

Yes. The guidance highlights a risk assessment is important to identify and mitigate the ongoing risks of COVID and other health and safety issues. The NHBF offers risk assessment resources to its Members, which are available here. 

Risk assessments should be shared with staff and kept updated. HSE provides advice on how to do a risk assessment here.

Failure to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and put in place sufficient control measures to manage the risk may be considered a breach of health and safety law.

What services and treatments can be provided?

There are no restrictions to the services and treatments that can be provided.

Do I need to ask my clients COVID related questions before their appointment?

Yes. The guidance still recommends asking clients if they have had symptoms or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 before their appointment. It is also advised to turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms to avoid any risk of infection.

What PPE is required?

Since Thursday 27 January, the legal requirement to wear a face covering was removed. The Government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.

Any use of PPE should be determined by an assessment of risks in the workplace. The guidance states for close contact services that you may decide that you’re going to ask clients or staff to wear a face covering in your premises, especially where practitioners are conducting treatments which require them to be in close proximity to a person’s face, mouth and nose.

Continuing to take precautions with wearing a face covering will help reduce the risk of infection, avoid potential temporary business closures and staff absences, and ultimately keep staff and clients safe.

Requirements relating to signage and information

It is no longer a legal requirement for close contact services to display a notice advising that face coverings should be worn. However, you could still choose to display a notice in a conspicuous location, for example, displayed on the front door.

NHBF Members can download Face covering poster here.

Do I need to wear a visor?

No. The Government has removed any recommendation to wear a visor. A face visor or shield may be worn in addition to a face covering but not instead of one. This is because face visors or shields do not adequately cover the nose and mouth and filter airborne particles.

Are we required to social distance?

Social distancing requirements ended in England on 19 July when the country moved to Step 4. COVID-19 can, however, still spread through social contact.

It is therefore sensible to continue using:

• Fixed teams or partnering where possible (so each person works with only a few others).
• Screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• Back-to-back or side-to-side working where possible

These measures will help to reduce the risk to you and your clients.

Do we still need to support the test and trace programme?

The legal requirement to display the official NHS QR code poster is removed from 19 July. As people no longer need to check in, please remove any NHS COVID-19 QR code posters or any systems that you use to collect contact details (for this purpose) at your venue.

Do we need to keep the customer’s details for 21 days?

No. There are no longer specific requirements on the taking and maintaining of client records. If you have records of customers, visitors, and staff that you have collected to support NHS Test and Trace, please delete this data. You must delete this data in a way that does not risk unintended access. For example, permanently deleting electronic files and shredding paper documents. It is important you do this to meet your General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obligations. Find out more about maintaining records for contact tracing purposes.

Do we still need to operate on appointment only?

The government guidance asks that businesses consider operating on an appointment only basis, however each business can make its judgement based on its risk assessments and hygiene and safety measures.

Should I self-isolate if I come into contact with someone who tests positive?

From Thursday 24 February, the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test will end. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.

The Government will no longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and will remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate. They will also end routine contact tracing. Contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.

If they get any COVID-19 symptoms, they should self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test.

See full guidance

Do we still have to use screens?

Businesses do not have to continue to use screens; however, it is recommended to use screens as it reduces the risk of spreading infection.

Do we need to follow the same cleaning routine?

Maintaining good hygiene standards is good practice in hair and beauty salons and is an essential part of infection control. The guidance still asks you to consider the following cleaning in the workplace:

• Cleaning work areas and equipment between uses.
• Frequently cleaning objects and surfaces that people touch regularly.
• Sanitising any reusable equipment after each appointment and at the start and end of shifts.
• Using disposable gowns / separate gowns and towels for each client to be disposed of appropriately or washed between uses.
• Clearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.
• Referring to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings if cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
• Maintaining handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets hygiene practices.
• Reducing the spread of COVID-19 through contact with objects that come into the premises.

Can I reopen my waiting areas?

The guidance still asks you to consider advising clients to arrive at the time of the appointment as a way to minimise the number of people coming into contact with each other.

Do we still need to use a new gown for each client?

Yes, the guidance still asks you to consider using a new gown for each client. The NHBF also considers this a good practice.

Do I have to keep windows and doors open for ventilation?

The guidance continues to recommend maximising the supply of fresh air on your premises. Poorly ventilated spaces should be identified as part of your risk assessment and rectified with steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas.

This can be via:

• Doors, windows and vents 
• Mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts
• A combination of both

Maximising the amount of fresh air circulating in your business will help avoid COVID-19 spreading.

Can clients pay in cash?

The guidance still asks you to consider keeping contacts around transactions to a minimum and, where possible, use contactless payments.

Can I now run at full capacity as I used to?

There are no formal recommendations within the guidance on capacity levels. However, the NHBF recommends that businesses update their risk assessment to determine a safe capacity level for their specific businesses premises.

Can I offer newspapers, refreshments to my clients?

Yes. There are no restrictions in respect of food, drink or reading materials. The NHBF recommends that these items continue to be cleaned between uses for the safety of staff and clients.

Can I hold pamper parties?

Yes. From 19 July, there are no longer any restrictions on group gatherings. However, businesses are expected to operate safely and follow the mitigations highlighted in their risk assessment.

How is this guidance enforced?

Enforcing authorities such as HSE and your local authority ensures businesses comply with relevant laws and guidance to control public health risks. From Step 4 on 19 July, local authorities will continue to have the power to place public health restrictions on businesses in cases where a serious and imminent threat to public health is identified. Inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide to ensure that employers are taking the necessary steps.

If they identify serious breaches, enforcing authorities can do several things, including:

• Sending you a letter outlining the breaches they have identified.
• Serving you with an improvement or prohibition notice.
• Bringing a prosecution against you, in cases where they identify significant breaches.

If an enforcing authority issues you with any advice or notices, you should respond quickly and within their timescales.

Can I still furlough my staff?

As of 1 October 2021, the furlough scheme has ended. 

Wales

 

Wales Operating Guidance FAQs from 28 March2022 and the move to alert level 0

The following applies as set out in the updated guidelines for Wales.

Do I still need to carry out a risk assessment?

No, it is no longer a legal requirement. However, the guidance highlights a risk assessment is important to identify and mitigate the ongoing risks of COVID and other health and safety issues. The NHBF offers risk assessment resources to its Members, which are available here.

Risk assessments should be shared with staff and kept updated. HSE provides advice on how to do a risk assessment here. The Welsh Government advice is here. 

What services and treatments can be provided?

There are no restrictions to the services and treatments that can be provided on the basis that staff/practitioners are wearing the correct PPE for that specific treatment.

Do I need to ask my clients COVID related questions before their appointment?

Yes. The guidance still recommends asking clients if they have had symptoms or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 before their appointment. It is also advised to turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms to avoid any risk of infection.

What PPE is required?

It is no longer a legal requirement for staff to wear a face covering in hair and beauty salons. 

A clear visor and/or goggles for treatments not within the high-risk zone (the area directly in front of a client’s eyes, nose and mouth) are recommended as a reasonable measure as identified by your risk assessment.

It is no longer a legal requirement for clients to wear a face-covering in hair and beauty salons.

Are we required to social distance?

No. The general requirement of 2m social distancing has been removed.

COVID-19 can still spread through social contact.
It is therefore sensible to continue using:

• Fixed teams or partnering where possible (so each person works with only a few others).
• Screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• Back-to-back or side-to-side working where possible
• These measures will help to reduce the risk to you and your clients.

Do we still need to support the Test, Trace and Protect service?

Yes, please support the NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect service. The NHBF recommends downloading and using the app:
This helps to contact those who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Do we need to keep the customer’s details for 21 days?

There are no longer specific requirements on the taking and maintaining of client records. For your and your client's safety, the NHBF recommends retaining customer details for 21 days.

Do we still need to operate on appointment only?

Businesses can consider operating on an appointment only basis, however each business can make its judgement based on its risk assessments and hygiene and safety measures.

Should I self-isolate if I come into contact with someone who tests positive?

People who test positive for Covid-19 will be able to leave self-isolation after five full days if they have two negative lateral flow tests (The two consecutive negative lateral flow tests must be taken on days five and six of the isolation period)
If you are a contact of someone who tests positive, the decision on whether you will be determined to be a contact and asked to self-isolate will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Test, Trace Protect (TTP) service.

If you are unvaccinated, you must self-isolate for ten days if you’ve been told to self-isolate by the Test, Trace Protect (TTP) service. This is either because you have coronavirus or have been identified as being in contact with someone who has coronavirus and you might have caught it.

If you have been identified as a contact and live with others, only you will need to self-isolate. You’ll be told that you can book a PCR test online and what to do afterwards. See the self-isolation guidance. See the self-isolation guidance.

Exemptions

If TTP identifies you as a contact and at the time of your contact with the infected person, you have been fully vaccinated, you will not have to self-isolate. You are considered to be fully vaccinated if it is at least 14 full days since you had the full dose of an approved vaccine administered in the UK.

If you are under 18 and identified by TTP as a contact, you will not need to self-isolate.

These exemptions only apply if TTP identifies you as a contact. There may be certain circumstances where fully vaccinated people may still be asked to self-isolate by the Test, Trace, Protect service. If you or anyone you live with have the main symptoms, or develop them after TTP contacts you, you are advised to self-isolate and take a PCR test.

Do we still have to use screens?

The general requirement for 2m social distancing has been removed.  However, depending on your risk assessment, screens can continue to be used between chairs and at till points to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Should I ask my clients to continue to wear a face covering?

Face coverings are no longer required by law in Wales.

Do we need to follow the same cleaning routine?

Maintaining good hygiene standards is good practice in hair and beauty salons and is an essential part of infection control. The guidance still asks you to consider the following cleaning in the workplace:

• Cleaning work areas and equipment between uses.
• Frequently cleaning objects and surfaces that people touch regularly and remove all reading material.
• Ensure you are following manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning products.
• Sanitising any reusable equipment after each appointment and at the start and end of shifts.
• Using disposable gowns / separate gowns and towels for each client to be disposed of appropriately or washed between uses.
• Clearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.
• Referring to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings if cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
• Maintaining handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets hygiene practices.
• Reducing the spread of COVID-19 through contact with objects that come into the premises.

Can I reopen my waiting areas?

The guidance still asks you to consider advising clients to arrive at the time of the appointment as a way to minimise the number of people coming into contact with each other.

Do we still need to use a new gown for each client?

Yes, the guidance still asks you to consider using a new gown for each client. The NHBF also considers this a good practice.

Do I have to keep windows and doors open for ventilation?

The guidance continues to recommend maximising the supply of fresh air on your premises. Poorly ventilated spaces should be identified as part of your risk assessment and rectified with steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas.

This can be via:

• Doors, windows and vents 
• Mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts
• A combination of both
• Maximising the amount of fresh air circulating in your business will help avoid COVID-19 spreading.

Can clients pay in cash?

The guidance still asks you use contactless or app payments where possible and consider keeping contacts around transactions to a minimum.

Can I now run at full capacity as I used to?

There are no formal recommendations within the guidance on capacity levels. However, the NHBF recommends that businesses update their risk assessment to determine a safe capacity level for their specific businesses premises.

Can I offer newspapers, refreshments to my clients?

Yes. There are no restrictions in respect of food, drink or reading materials. The NHBF recommends that these items continue to be cleaned between uses for the safety of staff and clients.

Can I hold pamper parties?

Yes. The rule of six no longer applies however, and face coverings are no longer required in indoor public places. Businesses are expected to operate safely and follow the mitigations highlighted in their risk assessment.

How is this guidance enforced?

Enforcing authorities such as HSE and your local authority ensures businesses comply with relevant laws and guidance to control public health risks. Local authorities will continue to have the power to place public health restrictions on businesses in cases where a serious and imminent threat to public health is identified. Inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide to ensure that employers are taking the necessary steps.
If they identify serious breaches, enforcing authorities can do several things, including:

• Sending you a letter outlining the breaches they have identified.
• Serving you with an improvement or prohibition notice.
• Bringing a prosecution against you, in cases where they identify significant breaches.
• If an enforcing authority issues you with any advice or notices, you should respond quickly and within their timescales.

Can I still furlough my staff?

As of 1 October 2021, the furlough scheme has ended. 

Scotland 

 

Scotland Operating Guidance FAQ updated: 4 April 2022

Do I still need to carry out a risk assessment?

Yes. The guidance highlights a risk assessment is important to identify and mitigate the ongoing risks of COVID and other health and safety issues. The NHBF offers risk assessment resources to its Members, which are available here.

Risk assessments should be shared with staff and kept updated. HSE provides advice on how to do a risk assessment here. Scottish Government guidance is here.

What services and treatments can be provided?

There are no restrictions on the types of services and treatments that can be offered.

Do I need to ask my clients COVID related questions before their appointment?

Yes. The guidance still recommends asking clients if they have had symptoms or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 before their appointment. It is also advised to turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms to avoid any risk of infection.

What PPE is required?

From 18 April, face coverings become guidance rather than legally required. 

The NHBF is continuing to recommend that practitioners wear a face covering.

Continuing to take precautions with wearing a face covering will help reduce the risk of infection, avoid potential temporary business closures and staff absences, and ultimately keep staff and clients safe.

Do I need to wear a visor?

No, face coverings are no longer required from 18 April.

Are we required to social distance?

No, the restrictions around physical distancing indoors have been removed.
However, COVID-19 can still spread through social contact. It is therefore sensible to continue using:

• Fixed teams or partnering where possible (so each person works with only a few others).
• Screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• Back-to-back or side-to-side working where possible

These measures will help to reduce the risk to you and your clients.

Do we still need to support the Test and Protect programme?

Changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:

• most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
• free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice
• until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
• vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs
  
  In the meantime, the NHBF recommends supporting Protect Scotland app. Sign up for and use the free Test & Protect ‘Check-in Scotland’ digital service: Check-in Scotland - mygov.scot *
• This helps to contact those who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April. From that date, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test. The public health advice for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.

Do we need to keep the customer’s details for 21 days?

No. There are no longer specific requirements on the taking and maintaining of client records. For you and your client's safety, the NHBF recommends retaining customer details for 21 days.

Do we still need to operate on appointment only?

The government guidance asks that businesses consider operating on an appointment only basis, however each business can make its judgement based on its risk assessments and hygiene and safety measures.

Should I self-isolate if I come into contact with someone who tests positive?

At present, if you come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you should self-isolate. This applies to other staff members, clients or people outside the business.

From 9 August 2021, double vaccinated adults will not have to self-isolate for 10 days if they come into contact with someone who tests positive. Instead, if they have no symptoms, they will be able to end self-isolation if they return a negative PCR test.

Do we still have to use screens?

Businesses do not have to continue to use screens; however, it is recommended to use screens as it reduces the risk of spreading infection.

Should I consider asking my clients to continue to wear a face covering?

Face coverings are now no longer legally required. 

Should I consider asking my staff to continue to wear a face covering?

No, face coverings become guidance on 18 April and are no longer legally required.

Read full Scottish Government face covering guidance. 

Do we need to follow the same cleaning routine?

Maintaining good hygiene standards is good practice in hair and beauty salons and is an essential part of infection control. The guidance still asks you to consider the following cleaning in the workplace:

• Cleaning work areas and equipment between uses.
• Frequently cleaning objects and surfaces that people touch regularly and remove all reading material.
• Ensure you are following manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning products.
• Sanitising any reusable equipment after each appointment and at the start and end of shifts.
• Using disposable gowns / separate gowns and towels for each client to be disposed of appropriately or washed between uses.
• Clearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.
• Referring to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings if cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
• Maintaining handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets hygiene practices.
• Reducing the spread of COVID-19 through contact with objects that come into the premises.

Can I reopen my waiting areas?

The guidance still asks you to consider advising clients to arrive at the time of the appointment as a way to minimise the number of people coming into contact with each other.

Do we still need to use a new gown for each client?

Yes, the guidance still asks you to consider using a new gown for each client. The NHBF also considers this a good practice.

Do I have to keep windows and doors open for ventilation?

The guidance continues to recommend maximising the supply of fresh air on your premises. Poorly ventilated spaces should be identified as part of your risk assessment and rectified with steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas.

This can be via:

• Doors, windows and vents 
• Mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts
• A combination of both

Maximising the amount of fresh air circulating in your business will help avoid COVID-19 spreading. See the Scottish Government guidance here. Coronavirus (COVID-19): ventilation guidance – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and eligibility for the Business Ventilation Fund here.

The guidance still asks you use contactless payments where possible and consider keeping contacts around transactions to a minimum.

Can I now run at full capacity as I used to?

The Scottish Government has issued capacity guidance. The NHBF recommends that businesses update their risk assessment to determine a safe capacity level for their specific businesses premises.

Can I offer newspapers, refreshments to my clients?

Yes. Although the guidance recommends clients ‘avoiding touching surfaces that do not relate to treatments’ there are no specific restrictions in respect of food, drink or reading materials. The NHBF recommends that these items continue to be cleaned between uses for the safety of staff and clients. When offering drinks attention should be made to hand hygiene.

Can I hold pamper parties?

Yes. As of 9 August 2021, there are no longer any restrictions on group gatherings. However, businesses are expected to operate safely and follow the mitigations highlighted in their risk assessment.

How is this guidance enforced?

Enforcing authorities such as HSE and your local authority ensures businesses comply with relevant laws and guidance to control public health risks. Local authorities will continue to have the power to place public health restrictions on businesses in cases where a serious and imminent threat to public health is identified. Inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide to ensure that employers are taking the necessary steps.
If they identify serious breaches, enforcing authorities can do several things, including:

• Sending you a letter outlining the breaches they have identified.
• Serving you with an improvement or prohibition notice.
• Bringing a prosecution against you, in cases where they identify significant breaches.

If an enforcing authority issues you with any advice or notices, you should respond quickly and within their timescales.

Can I still furlough my staff?

As of 1 October 2021, the furlough scheme has ended. 

 

Northern Ireland

 

Northern Ireland Operating Guidance FAQs from 15 February 2022 (Please note: we are waiting for operating guidance to be updated and will further update our FAQs below once it has been published). 

The following applies set out in the updated guidelines for Northern Ireland

Do I still need to carry out a risk assessment?

Yes. The guidance highlights a risk assessment is important to identify and mitigate the ongoing risks of COVID and other health and safety issues. The NHBF offers risk assessment resources to its Members, which are available here.

Risk assessments should be shared with staff and kept updated. HSE provides advice on how to do a risk assessment here.

What services and treatments can be provided?

There are no restrictions to the services and treatments that can be provided on the basis that staff/practitioners are wearing the correct PPE for that specific treatment.

Do I need to ask my clients COVID related questions before their appointment?

Yes. The guidance still recommends asking clients if they have had symptoms or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 before their appointment. It is also advised to turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms to avoid any risk of infection.

What PPE is required?

From Tuesday 30 November at 4am, face coverings will be mandatory in shops and on public transport, including hairdressers. Staff should wear a clear visor or goggles and a Type II face mask. Wear gloves if possible and avoid skin-to-skin contact if not crucial for the treatment.

NI guidance here

Do I need to wear a visor?

The guidance states that a person providing a service working in the high-risk zone should wear further protection in addition to any that they might usually wear. This should take the form of a clear visor or goggles and a Type II Face Mask.

Are we required to social distance?

No. The requirement to take reasonable measures for 2m social distancing has been removed.  However, COVID-19 can still spread through social contact.

It is therefore sensible to continue using:

• Fixed teams or partnering where possible (so each person works with only a few others).
• Screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• Back-to-back or side-to-side working where possible

These measures will help to reduce the risk to you and your clients.

Do we still need to support the Test, Trace and Protect service?

Yes, please support the Public Health Agency’s Test, Trace and Protect scheme. The NHBF recommends downloading and using the ‘Stop COVIDNI’ App. This helps to contact those who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Do we need to keep the customer’s details for 21 days?

No. There are no longer specific requirements on the taking and maintaining of client records. For your and your client's safety, the NHBF recommends retaining customer details for 21 days.

Do we still need to operate on appointment only?

No. The NI Executive have removed the requirement for an appointment and overlapping appointments will be allowed. However, businesses can consider operating on an appointment only basis, and each can make its judgement based on its risk assessments and hygiene and safety measures.

Should I self-isolate if I come into contact with someone who tests positive?

People who are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 and 6 months no longer need to self-isolate if they've had close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If they get any COVID-19 symptoms, they should self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test.

Do we still have to use screens?

Businesses do not have to continue to use screens; however, it is recommended to use screens as it reduces the risk of spreading infection.

Should I consider asking my clients to continue to wear a face covering?

A client/customer may temporarily remove a face covering to allow access to their mouth/nose area, as long as the person/practitioner providing the treatment/service is wearing appropriate protective equipment as detailed above.

Should I consider asking my staff to continue to wear a face covering?

Yes, face coverings are still required by law in Northern Ireland.
Further detail on when and where to wear face coverings in NI.

Do we need to follow the same cleaning routine?

Maintaining good hygiene standards is good practice in hair and beauty salons and is an essential part of infection control. The guidance still asks you to consider the following cleaning in the workplace:

• Cleaning work areas and equipment between uses.
• Frequently cleaning objects and surfaces that people touch regularly and remove all reading material.
• Ensure you are following manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning products.
• Sanitising any reusable equipment after each appointment and at the start and end of shifts.
• Using disposable gowns / separate gowns and towels for each client to be disposed of appropriately or washed between uses.
• Clearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.
• Referring to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings if cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
• Maintaining handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets hygiene practices.
• Reducing the spread of COVID-19 through contact with objects that come into the premises.

Can I reopen my waiting areas?

The guidance still asks you to consider advising clients to arrive at the time of the appointment as a way to minimise the number of people coming into contact with each other.

Do we still need to use a new gown for each client?

Yes, the guidance still asks you to consider using a new gown for each client. The NHBF also considers this a good practice.

Do I have to keep windows and doors open for ventilation?

The guidance continues to recommend maximising the supply of fresh air on your premises. Poorly ventilated spaces should be identified as part of your risk assessment and rectified with steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas.

This can be via:

• Doors, windows and vents 
• Mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts
• A combination of both

Maximising the amount of fresh air circulating in your business will help avoid COVID-19 spreading.

Can clients pay in cash?

The guidance still asks you use contactless payments where possible including tips and consider keeping contacts around transactions to a minimum.

Can I now run at full capacity as I used to?

There are no formal recommendations within the guidance on capacity levels. However, you will need to continue to meet social distancing requirements and the NHBF recommends that businesses update their risk assessment to determine a safe capacity level for their specific businesses premises.

Can I offer newspapers, refreshments to my clients?

No. Food, drink or reading materials should not be offered apart from water in disposable cups or bottles.

How is this guidance enforced?

Enforcing authorities such as HSE NI and your local authority ensures businesses comply with relevant laws and guidance to control public health risks. Local authorities will continue to have the power to place public health restrictions on businesses in cases where a serious and imminent threat to public health is identified. Inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide to ensure that employers are taking the necessary steps.
If they identify serious breaches, enforcing authorities can do several things, including:

• Sending you a letter outlining the breaches they have identified.
• Serving you with an improvement or prohibition notice.
• Bringing a prosecution against you, in cases where they identify significant breaches.

If an enforcing authority issues you with any advice or notices, you should respond quickly and within their timescales.

Can I still furlough my staff?

As of 1 October 2021, the furlough scheme has ended.