Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/15024
Work at Home Safely Working in a home—yours or that of your clients—can be a safer and more comfortable situation if you know the common hazards that come with the territory. If you are considering working at home, start by checking with your local authorities about the legalities of doing so. Some regulations may require, and we recommend, a separate entrance in your home for your practice. Among other reasons, it creates a seamless and more professional atmosphere. If you work out of your home, it’s more likely a separate entrance will stay uncluttered and in good repair if it has a designated purpose. For outcalls, make sure someone in your life knows where your appointments are and at what times. You may want to start by visiting only clients with whom you’ve built a relationship. Allow plenty of time and get good driving directions so you can arrive safely and with poise. Some of the most common claims we experience at Associated Skin Care Professionals have to do with product spilled in clients’ homes, often damaging floors, coffee tables, and so on. We don’t recommend using candles anywhere you work because we frequently hear of hot wax spills. That could be particularly hazardous to surfaces in homes. Candles have been known to reignite when the user thought they’d been extinguished. Electrical appliances also deserve extra care. One esthetician we heard from left behind a warming blanket that was plugged in overnight. It burned the client’s rug. Another excellent practice, especially since you may be moving your table to different places, is to check its screws and bolts monthly, if not weekly. It’s easier than you may think for screws to work their way loose and tables to collapse. A few seconds of extra care can prevent a harmful and embarrassing accident. Having a regular checklist of safety checks you perform can help your defense if a claim is ever filed against you. The common-sense safety factors we’ve all heard—remove cords and rugs that might be tripping hazards, deice sidewalks and steps, fix loose railings—still bear repeating because these are the most common causes of preventable accidents. otherwise. Clients may feel excluded if they don’t share your beliefs, or they may be offended by them. Unless you’re sure that everyone else in town is voting for the candidate you are or shares the same spiritual path you do, keep it to yourself and avoid rubbing a client the wrong way. It may sound obvious, but keep your office space clean and tidy. Sanitation is critical in esthetics. And, of course, clients won’t feel comfortable in unclean surroundings. Clients don’t find it charming when the cat jumps on their lap with sticky kitty-littered feet. Or the room is obviously dirty or the bathroom a mess. With so many new viruses and bacteria popping up these days, people are concerned about catching something. Find a balance between a room that smells antiseptic and one that feels as though germs may be lurking in every corner. Clean, orderly surroundings will help your clients feel more at ease. CREATE A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE Working out of your home can be a viable solution, especially if it’s an accepted practice in your community. Before making the decision to work out of your home, check with your state and local regulatory agencies regarding any zoning or practice laws that may restrict or prohibit you from operating a home-based business. If that’s your choice, you need to be careful to assure clients of your professionalism in other ways. For your own sake as well as your client’s, you have to draw a clear line between your work life and your personal life, putting your personal life as much in the background—or out of sight—as possible. Wherever you work, your focus needs to be on creating a safe and relaxed atmosphere for both you and your client. Nina McIntosh is the author of the popular book The Educated Heart. She is widely published on ethics topics. www.ascpskincare.com successful business handbook 27