HAIRDRESSING and beauty students, and their teachers, at New College Lanarkshire are completing new training in health and safety protocols.
Academic and professional services staff from the college’s faculty of service industries undertook the “Barbicide Covid-19 Certification” that has been introduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Barbicide is widely used by cosmetologists for disinfecting grooming tools such as combs and scissors.
Lecturers at the college began delivering the training through a partnership with haircare brand Wella.
Course participants are taught infection control measures including how to use barbicide disinfectant effectively and the correct use and disposal of PPE.
Neil McMullen, the college’s curriculum and quality leader, said: “As a faculty, we have strong relationships with experts and professional partners with whom we liaise regularly, and this allows us to adapt to whatever the demands of industry are.
“This training is so important as it reiterates the importance of hygiene and high salon standards that we have always taught our students; but even more so now considering the new demands of dealing with the current conditions that we are faced with.
“We have also offered the course to our students, who have continued to learn remotely, and have had a very positive response so far.
“In addition, it will be offered to all new and progressing students enrolling in the college in the new academic year.
“We are continuing to keep in touch with salon owners and managers regarding how we move forward safely, including the use of protective equipment for staff and clients, and alerting our students to the longer opening times for salons.”
All those who complete the course are issued with a certificate acknowledging their up-to-date understanding of sanitation, hygiene and disinfection practices.
These certificates will be displayed in the college’s salons at the Coatbridge, Motherwell and Cumbernauld campuses, and can be taken by students to their work placements.
The reopening of personal retail services, including hair salons, is currently part of Phase 3 in the Scottish Government’s route map out of the Covid-19 crisis.
New College Lanarkshire’s range of courses in hairdressing and barbering, beauty therapy and make-up artistry are currently open for applications.
To find out more visit, https://www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses
