Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures

This page is your quick-reference guide for emergencies. Familiarize yourself with every section - in a real emergency you will not have time to read it for the first time.

Emergency numbers:

  • 911 - fire, police, medical emergency
  • Poison Control - 1-800-222-1222
  • Cal/OSHA - 1-800-963-9424

The first aid kit is located at the front desk. The AED is mounted on the wall near the front entrance. Fire extinguishers are at the front entrance and in the dispensary.

Fire

For evacuation routes and assembly point details, see Workplace Safety.

  1. Activate the fire alarm if it has not already sounded
  2. Alert all staff and clients: "Evacuate now - everyone please exit the building immediately"
  3. If a client is mid-service, instruct them to leave immediately as-is - no service is worth delaying evacuation
  4. Exit through the nearest marked exit route
  5. Proceed to the assembly point - the far end of the Fig Garden Village parking lot, away from the building and roadways
  6. The salon manager or designated person takes a headcount of all employees
  7. Call 911 if not already called
  8. Do not re-enter the building until emergency personnel give the all-clear

If the fire is small and contained (e.g., a wastebasket fire), a trained employee may attempt to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher only if they can do so without blocking their own exit. If the fire does not go out immediately, evacuate.

Earthquake

Fresno is in an active seismic zone. During an earthquake:

During the Shaking

  1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On
    • Drop to your hands and knees
    • Take cover under a sturdy desk, table, or doorframe - stay away from windows, mirrors, shelving, and chemical storage
    • Hold on until the shaking stops
  2. If you are with a client, direct them to take cover immediately
  3. If you are performing a chemical service, set down all chemicals and move away from the dispensary area before taking cover
  4. Do not run outside during the shaking - falling debris is the greatest hazard

After the Shaking Stops

  1. Check yourself and those around you for injuries
  2. Watch for hazards - broken glass, fallen shelving, spilled chemicals, damaged electrical wiring
  3. If you smell gas or see structural damage, evacuate immediately to the assembly point
  4. Do not use elevators
  5. The salon manager assesses whether the building is safe to remain in
  6. If evacuation is ordered, follow the standard evacuation procedure and take a headcount at the assembly point
  7. Expect aftershocks - be prepared to Drop, Cover, and Hold On again
  8. Do not re-enter a damaged building

Power Outage

  1. Stay calm and reassure clients
  2. Use cell phone flashlights to provide immediate visibility - a flashlight is also kept at the front desk
  3. Stop all chemical services immediately. Do not continue to apply, process, or rinse chemicals in low-light conditions. If a client has active color or chemical processing, rinse it out as soon as safe water access is confirmed.
  4. Stop all services involving sharp tools (shears, razors, waxing) until lighting is restored
  5. Unplug or power off heat-producing equipment (flat irons, curling irons, dryers, wax warmers) to prevent a surge when power returns
  6. The salon manager contacts the property management office for Fig Garden Village to get an estimated restoration time
  7. If power will be out for more than 30 minutes, the salon manager decides whether to close and send employees and clients home
  8. Lock the front door if the salon closes - the POS system will not function without power, so do not attempt manual credit card transactions
  9. Document any affected appointments for rescheduling

Medical Emergency

This applies to employees, clients, or visitors who experience a medical emergency on the premises.

Someone Is Unconscious or Not Breathing

  1. Call 911 immediately
  2. Begin CPR if you are trained and the person is not breathing - the AED is near the front entrance
  3. Do not move the person unless they are in immediate danger (e.g., chemical exposure, fire)
  4. Clear the area around the person to give space to first responders
  5. Designate someone to meet the ambulance at the front entrance and direct them inside

Someone Is Injured but Conscious

  1. Assess the situation - provide basic first aid from the first aid kit if appropriate
  2. If the injury is serious (heavy bleeding, possible broken bone, burn, allergic reaction), call 911
  3. For minor cuts or injuries during a service, follow the bloodborne pathogen exposure procedures in Workplace Safety

Allergic Reaction During a Service

  1. Stop the service immediately
  2. Remove the product from the client's skin and rinse thoroughly with water
  3. Ask the client if they carry an EpiPen - assist them in using it if they request help
  4. Call 911 if the client shows signs of anaphylaxis (difficulty breathing, swelling of the face/throat, dizziness, rapid pulse)
  5. Keep the client calm and seated (or lying down if dizzy) until help arrives
  6. Note the exact product used - emergency responders will need this information

Chemical Spill

For general chemical handling rules, see Workplace Safety.

Minor Spill (small quantity, known product, no fumes)

  1. Put on gloves and eye protection
  2. Ventilate the area - open doors and windows
  3. Contain and clean up the spill according to the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) - the SDS binder is in the dispensary
  4. Dispose of contaminated materials in a sealed bag
  5. Report the spill to the Safety Officer or salon manager

Major Spill (large quantity, unknown product, fumes, or skin/eye contact)

  1. Evacuate the immediate area - move all employees and clients away from the spill
  2. Do not attempt to clean it up yourself
  3. If anyone has chemical contact with skin or eyes, flush with water for at least 15 minutes
  4. Call 911 if anyone is having difficulty breathing, experiencing burns, or if you cannot identify the chemical
  5. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if someone has ingested a chemical product
  6. Ventilate the area if you can do so without approaching the spill
  7. The salon manager or Safety Officer manages the cleanup and determines when the area is safe to reoccupy

Active Threat or Lockdown

For detailed procedures, de-escalation guidance, and robbery response, see Workplace Violence Prevention.

Quick reference:

  1. Call 911 immediately - do not wait for permission
  2. If you can evacuate safely - get out, take others with you, leave belongings behind, proceed to the assembly point
  3. If you cannot evacuate - lock or barricade doors, turn off lights, silence phones, stay low and quiet
  4. Do not confront the individual
  5. Follow law enforcement instructions when they arrive

Extreme Heat

Fresno regularly experiences temperatures above 100°F during summer months. The salon is air-conditioned, but be aware of:

  • Employees arriving or leaving during extreme heat - stay hydrated throughout your shift; water is always available
  • A/C failure - if the air conditioning stops working during extreme heat, notify the salon manager immediately. Chemical services must be suspended if the interior temperature becomes unsafe. The salon manager determines whether to close.
  • Signs of heat illness in yourself or others: heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness, headache, confusion. Move the person to a cool area, provide water, and call 911 if symptoms are severe or do not improve

After Any Emergency

Once the immediate emergency has passed:

  1. Account for all employees - the salon manager takes a headcount
  2. Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel or the salon manager
  3. Report injuries - any employee injured during an emergency must report it to the salon manager. See Workplace Safety - Reporting a Workplace Injury for workers' compensation procedures.
  4. Document the incident - the salon manager completes an incident report within 24 hours, including what happened, who was involved, any injuries, and actions taken
  5. Contact affected clients - front desk reschedules any appointments disrupted by the emergency
  6. Debrief - the salon manager holds a brief team meeting within one week to discuss what happened, what went well, and what to improve

Review this page regularly. If you have questions about any emergency procedure, ask the salon manager or Safety Officer. Do not wait for an emergency to ask.

Last reviewed: March 2026