Since H1N1, more commonly referred to as Swine Flu, first hit the news about a year ago, Jan Seybold, who co-owns Carenza Color Cutting Experience in Brookfield, Wisconsin, has taken a proactive approach:

Jan Seybold shares her H1N1 strategy.

"We immediately provided each work station in the salon with an individual pump dispense bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, including hair, nail and skin stations and the front desk. We placed anti-bacterial soap in all the rest rooms, and at every sink in our breakrooms, color bar and treatment rooms. We use anti-bacterial wipes to clean up counters in the restroom, at styling stations and at the front desk, as well as the coffee bar counter and coffee machine. We have had only one case of confirmed Swine Flu in the salon, and this employee contacted us right away and stayed home for the required amount of time. All team members were informed that she was ill, and luckily none were infected."

A new H1N1 online toolkit for salons and spas makes taking precaution easier than ever. This website, launched by the Professional Beauty Association and King Research, the manufacturer of Barbicide, includes access to a free information including prevention strategies, answers to frequently asked questions, factsheets, guidelines for disinfecting salon and spa equipment, tips for staying healthy at work and a planning checklist. Check out the H1N1 toolkit.

Information on the site and easily be downloaded and printed and shared with staff members, and when the guidelines are put in place, owners can reduce employee absenteeism due to the flu and reduce the possibility of passing the flu onto their clients. 

"I think most salons have a good understand of sanitation requirements for their tools and stations, but the information on this website offers a few easy ways to take extra precaution during flu season!" says Seybold. "I have found these best practices to be extremely helpful and have already shared them with my staff.

Send us a comment and let us know how H1N1 has impacted your business and what you've done to protect yourself and your staff.

Stacey Soble has been involved in the conversation of salon business for 14 years-as a reporter, a consultant and as the editor in chief of SALON TODAY.

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