If a hairdresser injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a hairdresser illness or injury, we can help.

If your injuries were caused by your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a No Win, No Fee work accident compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

With almost 500,000 work-related illness cases each year, you are not alone

473,000 workers are suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder, with hairdressers particularly at risk of risk of lower back, neck, shoulder, arm and wrist injury (hse.gov.uk).

In addition, standing on hard floors for long periods puts stress through the feet, knees and lower back muscles, resulting in pain and stiffness in the knee, ankle and hip joints.

Repetitive movements can lead to Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Upper Limb Disorders (ULDs) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

Hairdressers regularly handle potentially hazardous chemicals such as hair dyes that can cause dermatitis and other injuries if mishandled or used regularly without suitable protection. According to the HSE, asthma is also a risk to hairdressers as latex glove powder can become airborne and trigger asthma.

Salon owners owe a duty of care to their employees to minimise the risks they face wherever possible. If your employer has failed in its' duty of care, and you have been injured or made ill as a result, you may be able to make a claim.

Do I have a hairdresser illness or injury claim?

As a basic rule, you will be eligible to make an injury claim if you were injured:

  • in the last 3 years, and;
  • another person or organisation was to blame, and;
  • they owed you duty of care.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

What happens if I share some of the blame?

Figuring out who is legally at fault for an accident can sometimes be complex and nuanced.

According to our recent 2024 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers thought that their actions could have contributed, either in part or wholly, to their injuries.

You could still be able to claim even if you were partly responsible for your injury or illness. Even if an employee's mistake caused your injury or illness, your employer would usually be liable, so you can still claim compensation.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to start a hairdresser illness or injury claim?

In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.

You may still be able to claim compensation if you were injured by another's negligence and you only discovered it later. Generally, the clock starts ticking from the date you were diagnosed or became aware of your injury.

How much compensation can I claim for a hairdresser illness or injury?

The amount of money you could claim for a hairdresser injury will depend on:

  • the severity of your injury, and
  • any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

Hairdresser illness or injury compensation calculator

Get an accurate compensation estimate (including for multiple injuries), confirm your legal position, and check if you have a No Win, No Fee claim.

Updated March 2024 Compensation Calculator v3.04

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your hairdresser injury such as skin treatment and medication for allergic reactions.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Potentially risky equipment

Heat-styling electrical tools such as hairdryers, curling tongs and straighteners all carry risks. If not properly maintained and checked for defects they may overheat, increasing the risk of burns injuries.

The salon's health and safety procedures should insist that the equipment be switched off when not in use.

There is also a risk of electric shock where electrical equipment is used near water, and salons should be arranged so that all such equipment is at a safe distance from basins.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require that work equipment is suitable and safe for the work carried out and does not pose any health or safety risk.

Employers must consider the working conditions and work-place risks when selecting equipment; making sure it suitable for its intended use and used with suitable safety measures. It must be properly maintained and inspected as necessary; with employees given adequate information, instruction and training prior to using the equipment.

Exposure to substances hazardous to health

Hairdressers are exposed to many hazardous agents in the workplace, including vapours, solvents, perfumes and dusts. These factors may cause adverse health effects, particularly respiratory (lung) and dermatological (skin) conditions.

Studies have shown an excess risk of developing occupational asthma, rhinitis and other respiratory diseases including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, alveolitis and reduced lung function. These conditions may develop over a period of time depending on whether they are caused by an allergic reaction or chronic irritation.

Dermatitis

Up to 70% of hairdressers sustain work-related skin damage, especially to the hands.

Allergic contact dermatitis is the most common disorder, but burns from chemicals such as bleaches and hair dyes may also occur.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations require that all workers, including hairdressers, are protected from exposure to chemicals and other harmful substances in the workplace. They recommend that employers should use alternatives to harmful chemicals wherever possible, meaning employers must assess the health risks which come from those chemicals and take steps to prevent or control exposure.

The employer should also, wherever appropriate, monitor the hairdressers' exposure and properly inform, instruct and train their employees to deal with harmful chemicals

In addition, employers, the self-employed and those in control of work premises have a duty under Report of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) to report if any of the following occur:

  • A death or major injury such as a chemical burn to the eye
  • An injury that lasts over three days e.g. a serious cut from a razor or scissors
  • Disease, e.g. occupational dermatitis, or

Many hairdressers use protective gloves to protect their skin from chemicals and frequent water exposure. Latex based gloves may also cause latex allergy reactions such as asthma and eczema, so it may be preferable for an employer to provide synthetic gloves made of vinyl or nitrile as an alternative.

Read more:

Latex allergy compensation claims

Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 6 April 2022.

This legislation means that employers have an obligation to provide free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all workers, including workers who are self-employed or on a zero-hours contract.

Under the previous 1992 regulations, employers were only required to provide PPE to employees with a formal employment contract.

PPE such as disposable gloves and face mask should be available to anyone working in a salon, hairdresser, barber.

If you are injured or made ill whilst working as a hairdresser and your employer failed to provide you with suitable PPE, you may be entitled to claim compensation - even if you are self-employed.

Slip and trip accidents

Injuries caused by slips, trips and falls (particular hazards include wet floors, hair clippings and electrical wires) - may all be prevented by implementing a robust health and safety culture and policy, including regular checks and cleaning schedules.

Where a schedule of regular checks is not in place, or the checks are not properly carried out, and a member of staff or patron is injured as a result, it is more likely that the owner of the salon will be found to be negligent.

Employers' liability claims claims

Work accident claims, or employers' liability claims, differ from other types of claim. Click on the icons below to read more about claiming:

No win, no fee hairdresser illness or injury compensation claims

With no win, no fee, you can claim hairdresser illness or injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.

Find out more about how no win, no fee claims work

How we can help you with your work accident claim

Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning work accident claims.

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If you have any questions, or would like to start a No Win No Fee work accident claim, we are open:

Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9:30am-5pm

Call us for FREE advice on 0800 376 1001, or arrange a call back from a friendly, legally-trained advisor:

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Citations

Source: (reviewed: 10/12/2023)

Chris Salmon, Director

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director