Risk assessment 

Company name: Mellow Massage              Assessment carried out by Anna-Marie Clarke

Date of next review: 24/08/2020            Date assessment was carried out: 24/07/2020

​

         What are the hazards?  Me, The Therapist

         Who might be harmed and how? Other people, everyone I come into contact with.

         What are we already doing to control the risks?

·       Social distancing 1- 2 meters, limited shop visits and limited visits to public spaces.

·       Monitoring my health hourly and daily.

         What further action do we need to take to control the risks?

·       If I become symptomatic of Covid-19, Do not treat anyone, cancel treatments and self-isolate for 14 days and/or if I am asked to self-isolate for 14 days from Track and Trace. Contact 119 for a test.

·       Wear clean fresh uniform daily, washed at 60 degrees or higher.

·       Avoid public areas, shops and busy places prior to travelling to a massage booking. 

·       Wash hands or sanitise hands both before arriving at a massage booking and wash or sanitise hands after touching any surfaces in any public places. 

·       Take hourly & daily my body temperature and record on paper. Self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms hourly & daily. 

·       Ask client to ventilate the room where the massage will take place for at least one hour prior to my arrival.

·       On the therapists arrival to a massage booking, at either a person’s home or a guest bedroom, the therapist to firstly don new PPE including disposable foot or shoe coverings before entering a person’s home or a guest bedroom, therapist to don a full visor, a mask, disposable gloves.

·       Therapist to provide client or guest with a disposable facemask to wear for the entire treatment.

·       Therapist setting up and sanitising the massage equipment, when therapist has finished setting up the massage couch and after         the therapist has sanitised equipment, then doffing (removing) mask and gloves and placing these items in a disposable sealable         bag in a separate container, to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours in black bags for general waste.

·       Therapist then donning a fresh mask and new gloves to wear whilst providing the massage treatment, therapist also to wear a               disposable or washable apron whilst providing treatments to clients and a full visor to be worn by therapist.

·       At the end of a treatment, sterilise all equipment before placing outside of the massage venue. Once all the                                                     equipment is outside, bid farewell to client.

·       Client to wear their facemask until the therapist has left the venue and the door has been closed.

·       Therapist to remove PPE and placing in sealed bag to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours into black bags for general             waste.

        Who needs to carry out the action? Me, The Therapist

        When is the action needed by? Daily - everyday

     

​

         What are the hazards? Massage Equipment

       Who might be harmed and how? Myself, the client and any other persons I come into contact with.

         What are we already doing to control the risks?

       All PPE and disposable or washable equipment has been sourced, including disposable massage couch covers,                                              disposable face cradle cover, disposable aprons, disposable masks sourced for clients. Full visor for therapist has been sourced.          70% alcohol Hand sanitiser sourced, disposable gloves sourced, Antibacterial hand wipes and antibacterial equipment wipes            sourced. Washable plastic storage boxes and lids for storage of PPE. Storage of the PPE and storage of the disposable              massage equipment is stored safely at my home, in plastic sealable wipeable boxes.  

·       New plastic washable sealable boxes have been sourced for carrying of all equipment to a treatment. Separate plastic washable           boxes for new and used equipment have been sourced. Disposable tissues sourced for clients use.

·       Where possible store massage equipment in the car rather than bringing it in and out of home, stored in the boot of car on a             washable boot liner.

​

         What further action do we need to take to control the risks?

·       Store and carry all massage equipment in sealable, washable, plastic containers in my car both to and from massage                                       bookings. 

·       Use new disposable equipment where possible during treatments (not limited to) disposable gloves, apron, face mask and                   disposable or washable massage couch covers, disposable face cradle cover, fresh couch roll and fresh clean towels and linen for each treatment. 

·       Keep new and used PPE in completely separate sealable washable containers. 

·       Use a separate container for each client with all the necessary equipment for the treatment to include, new disposable massage           couch covers, disposable face cradle cover, fresh couch roll, new towels and linens for every client.

·       Sanitise all equipment, including the massage couch and face cradle, and the legs of the massage couch prior to and after                 every massage treatment provided.

·       Store in a separate washable container all personal protective equipment (PPE). 

·       Disposable materials to be placed in a sealed bag or a separate plastic box following the end of a massage treatment. The                   sealed bag and used disposable equipment to be disposed of in the black general waste no earlier than 72 hours following            treatment. 

·       All linens and towels to be placed in a sealed, washable container following the end of a massage treatment. 

·       Linens and towels to be washed at 60 degrees or higher to sanitise.

·       Sanitise all plastic boxes at the end of the day, using antibacterial wipes or a solution of bleach and water.

·       Dispose of antibacterial wipes and material used for cleaning no earlier than 72 hours later in the black bags for general waste.

        Who needs to carry out the action? Me the therapist

        When is the action needed by? Prior to and following every massage treatment

     

​

          What are the hazards?  Clients or Guests

        Who might be harmed and how?  Therapist and other people the therapist will come into contact with.

          What are we already doing to control the risks?

·       Updated the Mellow Massage social media page AND I have emailed my client contacts list by email, and I have updated my website under the blog section, outlining the new safety measures and procedures, following government guidelines.

​

          What further action do we need to take to control the risks?

·       Clients are advised to not book a treatment if they are symptomatic of Covid-19 come into contact with anyone else who is               symptomatic of Covid-19 or are high risk person. As per the NHS website                                                                https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/

·       24 hours prior to treatment, screening for Covid-19 symptoms of all clients and anyone in their household or have been in             contact with, by using a screening and consent form which has been supplied by the General Council for massage therapy (GCMT) This will be emailed to the client and they can fill this in online and returned by email to mellow massage.

·       Alternatively, a paper copy can be provided, the client to use their own pen when filling out paperwork, preferably not in the same room as the therapist.

·       Client asked to fill out relevant consultation forms online prior to massage booking to minimise the amount of time spent face to face between a client and therapist.

·       Clients asked to wear and/or are provided with a disposable or washable fresh facemask prior to commencement of the                     massage treatment.

·       Before entering a client’s home or a guest room the therapist to screen a client verbally by asking a series of questions and                   taking the clients temperature prior to entering their room/home to provide a massage treatment.

·       Client asked to open doors for therapist so that the therapist does not need to touch anything on arrival or exit.

·       Client asked to take a warm shower before their massage as an extra safety step.

·       Clients and therapist are advised to minimise unnecessary chatter to prevent droplet formation.

·       Treatments have been shortened to 45 minutes to reduce the amount of time spent in person between the client and the                     therapist.

·       Client to remain prone during the majority of the treatment, client to be supine for no longer than 10 minutes and only if totally           necessary.

·       Therapist to work over the towels or linens to warm up the muscles and tissues. Therapist to work over and using the towels and         linens where possible to reduce skin to skin contact which may also provide the most effective therapeutic result.

·       If working from a treatment room, a sanitised plastic sealable container is to be provided for the client to put their clothes and belongings in. This box to be sanitised thoroughly after each client has used it. 

·       Clients are advised to be alone with the therapist in the room they receive their treatment in, without the presence of other                 household members.

·       Client asked to not touch anything once they have regained alertness following the massage and as they get up and get                     dressed. 

·       Client asked to open the exit door so that the therapist can leave without having to touch anything. 

·       Therapist to carry disposable tissues should they need to touch any surfaces in a guestroom or home. Tissues to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours following use, into the black bags for general waste disposal.

​

        Who needs to carry out the action? Therapist or massage booking agent person.

        When is the action needed by? ConsistentlyAt the beginning of each new booking, 24 hours prior to arrival and on arrival to massage          booking.

     

​

          What are the hazards? All surfaces, floor, doorknobs, handles in clients Home or guestroom

        Who might be harmed and how? Therapist and other people the therapist will come into contact with.

          What are we already doing to control the risks?

·       Advising clients to ventilate the room being used for the massage treatment 1 hour prior to the arrival of the massage therapist.

·       Client advised to open the front door and any other relevant doors, so that the therapist doesn’t have to touch them, therapist t         to wear protective disposable foot/shoe coverings. 

       What further action do we need to take to control the risks?

·       Therapist to sanitise hands prior to entering a home or guestroom. Take all equipment to the door of the massage venue, to           minimise the amount of times entering and leaving the massage venue.

·       Therapist to don, fresh disposable or washable facemask, shoe coverings, full face visor, and gloves on entering a                                           guest room or home.

·       Therapist to not touch anything in the room on entrance. Therapist to carry disposable tissues, to use if they need to touch any           surfaces. Tissues used to be placed in a sealed container, for general waste disposal no sooner than 72 hours following use.

·       Therapist to place all consumables onto a couch roll covered surface.

·       Therapist to set up massage couch equipment using gloves and sanitising all the equipment.

·       Therapist to dispose of the gloves and facemask used to set up the massage couch equipment into a sealable bag to be                     disposed of no sooner than 72 hours after being used into the black bags for general waste disposal. 

·       Therapist to don fresh mask, apron and gloves and invite the client to the massage couch.

·       Client asked to minimise unnecessary chatter to avoid droplet formation during treatment. Client asked not to touch anything             once treatment is ended to get dressed and to leave the room while the therapist prepares to exit the room/home.

·       At the end of a treatment the therapist to place all disposable equipment used for a treatment, such as the disposable or                             washable couch cover, couch roll, face cradle cover and gloves into a separate plastic, washable, sealable container following the end        of a treatment, all disposables to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours after being used into the black bags for general waste disposal. The towels and linen used to be placed in a plastic sealable box to be washed at 60 degrees or higher.

·       Therapist to don fresh gloves to sanitise and clean all equipment including massage couch, face cradle and legs of massage                         couch, using antibacterial wipes or a solution of bleach and water.

·       Client to open the door, to allow the therapist to exit, to prevent the therapist touching doorknobs. Therapist to carry                                     disposable tissues in case they are required to touch any doorknobs or surfaces, to be placed in sealable bag to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours following a treatment.

·       Therapist to keep facemask and visor and shoe coverings on until they leave the guestroom or clients home. Once the therapist           has exited the venue, doffing of facemask, gloves and apron, and into a sealed bag to be disposed of no sooner than 72 hours into black bags for general waste.

·       All equipment to be placed into the therapist’s car and onto a washable, sanitised boot protecting mat. 

        Who needs to carry out the action? Both the client and the Therapist

        When is the action needed by?  Prior to, on arrival to and prior to massage treatment and following massage treatment.

     

 

       What are the hazards?  Therapist or client develops symptoms in the 14 days following the booking

 

 

       Who might be harmed and how? Therapist or client and anyone they come in contact with 

       What are we already doing to control the risks?

• Client asked to give permission for their information to be passed onto track and trace, should it be required.

• Therapist requested to check themselves for symptoms according to NHS guidelines every day before starting work. Cancel and notify the client of not being able to deliver massage service if the therapist develops any symptoms of Covid-19

• Reschedule after 14 days client’s treatment if necessary.

      What further action do we need to take to control the risks?

• Clients will be contacted 14 days after their booking to confirm that they haven’t developed any symptoms

• Record booking information will allow to trace all contacts that occur in the community should any infection be reported.

•  

    Who needs to carry out the action? Therapist and Client

    When is the action needed by? Ongoing monitoring of therapist and client health 14 days following the provision of a massage                    treatment

     

 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

​

More information on managing risk: www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/

 

​