Bad hand day gets official hand-over

A special hand-over event for the Bad Hand Day campaign - an initiative which aims to protect workers in the hairdressing industry from dermatitis - was supported by some of the biggest brand names in the business.

The event, held at London's Globe Theatre, saw the official hand-over of responsibility for the campaign from the Health & Safety Executive to industry body Habia.

Those attending included representatives from Wella Professionals, L'Oreal Professional Products Division, Sally Salon Supplies and Aston & Fincher. Talking at the hand-over ceremony, Isla Fairhurst, project manager for HSE's Skin Disease Project said: "Everyone involved in this partnership has worked hard to reach a point at which the industry itself is now placed to drive the campaign forward from here on. Dermatitis is often seen as an occupational hazard but it is completely avoidable if the right steps are taken to protect the skin.

The Bad Hand Day initiative has been, and will continue I'm sure, to be a worthwhile and important scheme recognised by the hairdressing industry as something to embed in its culture."

Commenting on the hand-over, Wendy Nixon, senior business development manager at Habia said: "Bad Hand Day has, in a few short years, put dermatitis at the top of the agenda for many in the hairdressing industry, both in terms of salon owners looking after their own health and safety and protecting their staff."