Your business premises will need to meet certain requirements to be able to be used for your health or beauty business. What you need will depend on the risk level of your business and the kinds of equipment you use.
When you submit your plans with your application, one of our environmental health officers will be in touch about what you need. We strongly suggest you wait until your application has been approved before making any changes to your premises.
Building requirements and guidelines
Floors, walls and ceilings
Your floors, walls and ceilings should be:
- waterproof and made of non-porous material
- easy to clean
- durable
- constructed without cracks or open joints.
You cannot have materials that cannot easily be cleaned, like:
- carpet
- exposed brick
- rough plaster.
Hand-washing sinks
You must have a hand-washing sink in each treatment room or space, and next to any toilets.
Your hand-washing sinks must:
- only be used for washing hands
- have hot and cold water from one faucet
- have liquid hand soap and paper towels within reach
- have an appropriate splashback
- have a hands-free tap if performing high-risk procedures like tattooing.
Equipment-washing sinks
If you need to wash and sterilise equipment as part of your business, you will need to have a dedicated area for this task.
Your equipment-washing area should:
- have at least two sinks, a “dirty” one for washing and a “clean” one for rinsing
- only be used for washing equipment and nothing else.
If you have a home-based business, the kind of equipment washing sinks you need will depend on:
- what disposable or reusable equipment you use
- how many clients you see a day
- your risk category (low, medium or high).
Once you have submitted your application for registration including your proposed floorplan, one of our environmental health officers will be in touch to discuss what you need.
Other requirements and guidelines
Disinfecting and sterilising
All equipment used during a beauty treatment must be clean and sanitary. The best way to clean and disinfect equipment is usually by washing and disinfecting by hand. You can disinfect your equipment using heat or chemicals.
If you are using instruments that pierce the skin, like tattoo guns or piercing equipment, you must sterilise these between each person. When we inspect your premises, you will need to show us how you sterilise equipment using an autoclave .
Linen
You should change any linen, paper strips or paper towels between customers.
Dirty linen, towels and protective clothing should be put in a washable, leak-proof tub. It should be washed using detergent and water that is at least 70 degrees Celsius.
Clean linen, towels and clothing must be stored in a clean place to prevent contamination.
General waste
General waste, such as paper and powered pigments, can be put in a bin marked “general waste”. This bin should be lined with a plastic bag and made of a material that is easy to clean. You should regularly empty your bins.
General waste can be collected by the usual rubbish service.
Clinical waste and sharps
Clinical waste like blood-stained swabs, cotton wool and gloves must be disposed of in a clinical waste bin. The bin must:
- be yellow with a black biohazard symbol
- have a close-fitting lid
- be lined with a plastic bag
- be washable.
You must dispose of this waste according to Environmental Protection Authority requirements.
Sharps like needles or razorblades must be disposed of in a specific container for sharps. This container must:
- be yellow with a black biohazard symbol
- have rigid walls and be puncture-proof
- have a tight-fitting lid
- be stored at least one metre above floor level and out of the reach of children.
Sharps containers do not need to be emptied until they are full, but they should be emptied before they are overflowing. Once they are full, they should be sealed and disposed of according to Environmental Protection Authority requirements.
Liquid waste
To dispose of liquid waste down the drain, you will need to:
- get permission from Greater Western Water
- dilute the waste by flushing the drain with at least four times the amount of cold water.
Keeping records
If you are doing any kind of treatment where you puncture the skin, like tattooing or body piercing, you will need to keep a record of your customers.
For each customer, you should record:
- their name
- their address
- their phone number
- the date of their procedure.
You need to keep these records for 12 months from the date of the procedure.