COVID-19 protocols for day spas

Government continues to establish protocols to guide the service industry in the ongoing novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Please see the protocols for day spas below:

Scope

This document outlines the strategies for the safe management and operation of day spas in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

For the purpose of this protocol, the day spas are those businesses that offer but not limited to the following service: Saunas, hot tubs, waxing, massages, scraping, facials, hot rock treatment, seaweed wraps, laser hair removal, manicures, pedicures.

Introduction

The Health Services Act CAP.44 (Hairdressers) Regulations 1970 makes provision for the safe operation of day spas. The following protocols build on these regulations making provision for additional guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Note: These guidelines are subject to change, as more information on the virus becomes known.

The owner or operator (service provider) of a day spa shall be responsible for the strict implementation of these protocols and for making them available to the employees.

Service Providers

It is important to ensure that persons who are working in the spa are healthy.

Service providers must stay at home if they have possible symptoms of COVID-19.

Any service provider who is identified as having symptoms must contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness Hotline at 536-4500.

Any employee experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of the sense of taste or smell, must be excluded from the establishment immediately, and sanitation operating procedures (SSOPs) need to be followed strictly.

(Close off areas used by a sick person and do not use until the areas have been cleaned and disinfected.)  If possible, wait 24 hours to clean and disinfect. If waiting 24 hours is not possible, wait as long as you can. Ensure the safe and correct application of disinfectants.

Any service provider absent from work due to suspected COVID-19 symptoms shall not return to work unless certified by a Medical Officer of Health.

Upon entering the workplace, everyone’s hands must be washed or sanitised.

Temperature checks are discretionary. If temperatures are to be taken, any person with a temperature over 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.0 degrees Celsius and above shall not be permitted in the workplace.

While in the spa, everyone must wear a face mask.

Face shields are strongly recommended for the service provider where the service provider has to be within three feet of the client during a treatment.

Where massages are concerned, when the client is lying face down only a mask is required for the service provider.

Where the service requires clients to remove their masks, the service provider should wear a mask and face shield.

Service providers must wash hands with soap and water, according to the handwashing protocol for 20 seconds, at the commencement of work.

Spa owners or managers should provide training, educational materials, and reinforcement on proper sanitation, hand-washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and other protective behaviours for their staff.

Where the service requires gloves, it is recommended that service providers wear disposable gloves and change gloves between each client.

Physical Distancing

Every business establishment should follow strict physical distancing protocols for staff and customers.

Restrict the number of persons within or outside the establishment at any one time in order to ensure that a distance of at least six (6) feet is maintained between each person.

People should not assemble otherwise than for the purpose of transacting business.

Physical distancing requires maintaining a distance of six feet with persons in public spaces.  Where possible, use contactless greetings, and avoid sharing of tools, office supplies and equipment.

Where possible, staggered start and finish times for team members is recommended.

Cleaning and Sanitising

The most effective practices in preventing the spread of COVID-19 are the washing of hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or the use of hand sanitizer for 20 seconds, rubbing both hands with sanitizer frequently, while at work and home.

Immediately dispose of used single use sanitary items such as: tissues, face masks, gloves, single use wax applicator sticks, etc. in a covered garbage receptacle.

High touch/high contact surfaces must be scheduled for frequent cleaning and disinfection.

As best as possible, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth while out in public.

Check-in consistently. Have a system that provides a symptom self-check for workers and other people before they enter the workplace. Depending on the workplace, the system could include: a door sign at the entrance to the premises; and/or a basic signs and symptoms checklist, written or oral.  Regularly check with workers about their well-being.

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS FOR DAY SPAS

Ensure break-rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised, and not used for congregating by employees.

Ensure that all sinks in the workplace have antibacterial soap available as well as paper towels.

Post handwashing signs in the restrooms.

Provide alcohol wipes for use at phone stations.

Be flexible with work schedules/spa hours to reduce the numbers of people (employees and clients) in spas/shops at all times in order to maintain physical distancing.

Process for Taking Appointments with Customers

Communicate information and expectations to all customers.

Ask customers to come into the spa only on appointment.

Inform the customer of the face mask policy while in the spa.

Ask customers to be upfront if they have experienced any symptoms connected to COVID-19 within the past 14 days.  The safety and health of the team members and other customers is not to be taken lightly.

Let customers know what will be expected of them for the time they are in the spas as it relates to limited movement, communication beyond the team members working with them, and where they may have to sit while waiting for treatments to be completed.

As far as possible, spas/shops should see clients by appointment only.  Spas/shops should consider scheduling online, or by telephone.

Limit the number of persons in the waiting area in the spa/shop.

It is recommended that clients wait outside the spa/shop until the service provider is ready to serve them.

It is recommended that persons not receiving service in the spa/shop should wait outside.

Spas/shops are not to be used as places for social gathering.

Capes and towels should be laundered following the fabric recommendations.  Spas/shops may consider using disposable capes and dispose of the cape after it is used.

Where applicable, employees should wear a clean smock.

Smocks should be laundered according to the fabric recommendations.

Spas/shops may consider using disposable smocks and dispose of the smock after use on a client.

PPE, such as gloves, linens and eye coverings, should be changed between each client. These used items should be cleaned and disinfected, or discarded in a closed container.

PROTOCOLS FOR DISINFECTION

• All spas/shops should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to reopening.  Disinfect all surfaces, tools, and linens, even if they were cleaned before the spa/shop was closed during the lockdown.

• Use disinfectants that are approved and labelled as bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal. No product has been labelled for COVID-19 as yet, but many will have human coronavirus efficacy either on the label or available on their website.

• Disinfectant for immersion of tools must be mixed daily and replaced sooner if it becomes contaminated throughout the work day.  Disinfectant only works on a clean surface. Before disinfecting, clean all surfaces and tools with hot soapy water, chemical cleaners or cleaning wipes. If using wipes, be sure to cover surface thoroughly.

• Contact time on the label must be observed for disinfectant to work. Contact time refers to the length of time the disinfectant is visibly wet on the surface, allowing it to thoroughly destroy all of the pathogens. Typical contact time for immersion/sprays is ten minutes, for disinfectant wipes it is two to four minutes.

• Disinfectant used for immersion must be changed daily or sooner if it becomes contaminated (e.g. hair/debris floating in solution or cloudy solution).

• Disinfection is for hard non-porous surfaces, glass, metal, and plastic.

• Porous/soft surfaces cannot be disinfected and must only be used once and then discarded (tools such as cardboard files, buffers, drill bits, etc.).

• Launder all linens, towels, drapes, and smocks in hot soapy water and dry completely at the warmest temperature allowed, and store in an airtight cabinet.  Store all used/dirty linens in an airtight container.

• Remove all unnecessary items such as magazines, newspapers, service menus, any other unnecessary paper products and decor. 

Wipe reception desk with disinfectant. Consider discontinuing use of paper appointment books or cards, and replace with electronic options. Consider placement of sneeze shields.

Employees should frequently wash their hands after using the phones, computer, cash register and/or credit card machine. Wipe these surfaces between each use.

Avoiding the exchange of cash can help greatly in preventing the spread of the virus, but if this is unavoidable, be sure to wash and sanitize hands well after each transaction. The use of credit/debit transactions is preferred, using touch, swipe or no signature technology.

PROTOCOLS FOR RECEPTION

Clean and disinfect all retail areas, daily, including products. Try to avoid clients touching products that they do not plan to purchase.

Clean and wipe all door handles and other surfaces that are regularly touched by clients and staff with disinfectant wipes.

Provide hand sanitiser and tissues for employees and clients. Consider floor stickers and signage that provide guidance for social distance.

Placement of visible and appropriate signage to communicate to the customer that thorough sanitation procedures are in place.

PROTOCOLS FOR RESTROOMS

Clean and disinfect ALL restroom surfaces, including floors, sinks and toilet bowls. Store paper products in a closed cabinet and provide antibacterial hand soap.

Place trashcan by door. Remove anything that does not have to be in the restrooms.

Inform clients and staff to close the toilet lid before flushing.

PROTOCOLS FOR WORK STATIONS

Clean and disinfect all work area surfaces, including electrical appliances (do not forget the cords).

Clean and disinfect chairs, head rest, arm rests (the use of harsh disinfectants can damage leather chairs, and cloth chairs cannot be disinfected, so please use a plastic covering).

Clean and disinfect all reusable tools and store in an airtight closed container.

Clean and disinfect all appliances used in connection with servicing clients.

Check to make sure all products such as lotions, creams, waxes and scrubs have always been in a closed container, if not you must discard and replace.

Empty all wax pots and disinfect before refilling them with new wax.  Purchase new single use applicators that can be disposed of in an airtight trash bin. The airtight trash bin should have a lid and should be lined with a disposable plastic bag.

Remove and discard all single use tools, such as paper files, drill bits and buffers, that have already been used.

Clean and disinfect all linen hampers and trash containers and only use such containers that can be closed and use with liners that can be removed and discarded.

Provide hand sanitiser at all work locations for employees and clients

Protocols for Pedicure/ Manicure Bowls

Rinse bowl with clean water.

If the bowl has jets, allow the jets to run for a full ten minutes with disinfectant.

Clean and disinfect all linens and store in a closed container/cabinet. (PR)

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