Salons and barbershops in Lebanon reopened on Monday, May 4th, along with restaurants, cafes, and other businesses, according to the 2nd stage of Lebanon’s 5-step plan to reopen the country.
The Ministry of Labor issued a generalization requiring salons and barbershops to adhere to health and safety guidelines for confronting COVID-19.
The generalization came as follows:
#1 Designation of at least one Point Of Contact (Coordinator)
- This may be anyone appointed as a coordinator within the organization.
- His or her tasks involved collecting and keeping up to date the staff’s contact information (i.e. housing address, home phone number, mobile phone number, mobility method, contact list of family members or friends in case of suspicion of any case). The information must be readily available to be presented to the relevant authorities when necessary.
- All workers must have the coordinator’s contact numbers to contact her or him if they are ill or if they are hospitalized on suspicion of being infected.
#2 Maintaining social distancing
- Not to receive any customer without an appointment, with the aim of reducing the number of people at one time.
- Maintaining social distancing of no less than 1.5 meters between people in customer reception halls, hairdressing or nail clipping rooms, at all times (except during serving customers).
- Reducing the number of workers allowed simultaneously at the same place.
- Dividing workers into two or more teams so that each team works at different times or days. That is to reduce the number of employees in the organization at the same time while maintaining the continuity of work (with one team) if one of the two teams got affected by the virus.
- Rearranging the workplace and equipment by leaving an empty seat (equivalent to at least 1.5 meters) between every two seated people.
- Use floor markings indoors, if necessary, to maintain social distancing, especially in the most crowded places and where customers are likely to line up pending entry to the establishment.
#3 Training employees to fight COVID-19
- All workers must be trained and made aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and infection prevention measures, which they must adhere to.
- That includes washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing, or coming into contact with any substances or objects that may be contaminated, and changing gloves if necessary.
- Soap and water, and a hand sanitizer containing at least 70% alcohol, must be readily available.
- Proper respiratory hygiene must be adopting: coughing or sneezing in the elbow or using a handkerchief that must be thrown in a trash can, which should be closed tightly, and washing hands afterward.
- Refraining from touching exposed body parts such as face and nose.
- Employees must stop working, inform the supervisor at once, and seek medical care if symptoms of COVID-19 appear.
- Workers should wear clean clothes and refrain from wearing accessories. Female employees are advised to tie their hair properly, and it is preferable to wear a hairnet.
- Work clothes must be washed daily.
- Drinks and food are not allowed.
#4 The use of protective supplies (mask and sterilizers)
- All workers and customers must wear face masks at all times and must cover the mouth and nose and sanitize or wash hands before entering.
- Hand sanitizers (containing at least 70% alcohol) must be made readily available in prominent places (at the entrance, waiting room, and reception…).
- Gloves must be changed after opening or closing doors, emptying containers, serving every customer, and touching any materials, objects, or surfaces subject to contamination.
- Handwashing facilities must be easily accessible and equipped with running water and soap at all times.
#5 Conducting daily health checks before starting work.
That includes:
- Checking the temperature of employees and customers using a remote working thermometer, such as an infrared thermometer. The temperature should not exceed 37.4 °C
- Asking about any symptoms.
- Asking about any contact with a suspected case.
#6 Frequent cleaning and sanitation
Employers and/or coordinators must:
- Make available approved cleaners and disinfectants for surfaces with appropriate concentration (following manufacturer’s instructions).
- Ensure a comprehensive daily cleaning and disinfection process, including cleaning offices, tables, computers, ladders, elevator, toilets, tissue paper containers, and soap.
- Identify surfaces that are frequently touched by employees or clients, and ensure always that they are cleaned with disinfectants approved by the Ministry of Health (for example door handles, equipment handles, elevator buttons, keyboards, stairs handrails, elevators, and tap water handles).
- Ensure that towels, linens, or cotton towels are placed in a tightly closed container after each use, and are washed at a high temperature (> 60 ° C) or using a bleaching wash product.
- Ensure that tools are sterilized (trim tools, nail polish bottles, combs, scissors, tweezers, hairdryers, and brushes… etc.) for each customer.
#7 Promoting a safe environment for employees
- Preventing smoking in the salon.
- Increasing the ventilation inside the place. In this regard, it is preferable to open the window or the door, especially that this contributes to reducing touching door handles.
- Securing waste containers that are tightly closed and that open by foot.
- Hanging visible and clear signs and tips indicating ways to prevent infection and the importance of hand sanitizing.
- Hanging or announcing clearly the contact number of the health authority who must be called to ask for help or for information when needed.
- Remove all things that are frequently touched, such as newspapers, magazines, and electronic panels.
- Cosmetic testing is forbidden.
#8 Payment methods
- It is advisable to request payment in a non-contact manner, such as paying by credit card.
- POS machines must be sterilized after each use.
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