Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify, eliminate or control health and safety risks and hazards associated with the use of intense pulsed light and laser for hair reduction. It requires the ability to assess risks and hazards, and determine suitable action to eliminate or control safety risks.
This unit applies to individuals working in a diverse range of beauty industry sectors and business contexts where intense pulsed light and laser equipment is used to provide hair reduction treatments. It applies to practitioners operating independently, under limited supervision of others and within established organisational policies and procedures. It may also apply to non-practitioners such as business owners, franchise owners and front desk staff.
The unit reflects the safety guidelines, for a broad range of clinic intense pulsed light and laser dermal applications, expressed in the following Australian and New Zealand safety standards, current at the time of publication:
AS/NZS 4173:2018 Safe use of lasers and intense light sources in health care
AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2014 Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
AS/NZS 1336:2014 Eye and face protection – Guidelines.
The use of intense pulsed light and laser is subject to legislation, regulation and licensing in some Australian states and territories.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCECRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify health and safety requirements for intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction treatments. | 1.1. Interpret workplace policies and procedures to identify workplace health and safety requirements for provision of intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction treatments. 1.2. Interpret legislative, regulatory, compliance and licencing information to identify regulatory health and safety requirements for the provision of intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction treatments. 1.3. Interpret industry and safety standard information to identify industry and standard health and safety requirements for the provision of intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction treatments. 1.4. Identify safety hazards related to features and functions of equipment used in intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction treatments. |
2. Assess and control safety risks in the treatment environment. | 2.1. Complete equipment maintenance checks as per organisational requirements and manufacturer instructions. 2.2. Comply with manufacturer instructions, safety data sheets and workplace policies and procedures to ensure correct functioning of intense pulsed light and laser equipment. 2.3. Review logs to confirm routine maintenance of intense pulsed light and laser equipment has occurred. 2.4. Troubleshoot, report and escalate equipment and treatment safety issues according to workplace policies and procedures. 2.5. Report and document equipment failures and faults to relevant personnel. 2.6. Check window coverings, hazard and warning signs to ensure they are correctly installed and used according to workplace policies and procedures and legislative requirements. 2.7. Check treatment environment to ensure it is fitted with required plume extractor and smoke evacuation systems that provide safe ventilation according to current standards and workplace policies and procedures. 2.8. Identify and remove potentially flammable and combustible items from treatment area. 2.9. Check to ensure suitable fire extinguishers are available and correctly maintained. 2.10. Prepare treatment area to minimise risk of laser treatment fire hazard associated with reflective equipment 2.11. Complete clinical procedure checklists and records according to federal, state or territory and local legislation, regulations and workplace policies and procedures. 2.12. Clean, sanitise and store equipment according to manufacturer instructions and workplace policies and procedures. |
3. Assess and control safety risks to practitioner and client. | 3.1. Identify actual and potential safety hazards and assess risks that may pose harm to the health and safety of practitioner, client and others who may be present during treatment. 3.2. Use correct personal protective equipment for practitioner, client and others who may be present during treatment. |
4. Respond to health and safety risks. | 4.1. Complete on-the-spot risk assessment and determine action and control measures to avoid injury to practitioner, client and others who may be present during treatment. 4.2. Take action to control safety risks within scope of own responsibility or refer to appropriate personnel for action. 4.3. Complete reporting and documentation according to workplace policies and procedures. |
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
SKILLS | DESCRIPTION |
Reading skills to: | interpret both familiar and unfamiliar, and sometimes complex documents: workplace policies and procedures materials describing industry and regulatory requirements of intense pulsed light and laser hair reduction non-ionising radiation safety protection plan manufacturer instructions for the safe use, maintenance and storage of intense pulsed light and laser equipment. |
Numeracy skills to: | comprehend units of measurement related to laser and intense pulsed light apparatus. |
Sectors
Beauty
Competency Field
Hair Reduction Services