Your legal obligation
Why spray tan technicians need a COSHH assessment
COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. The regulations require any business that uses hazardous substances to carry out a proper assessment of the risks. For spray tan technicians, the primary substance of concern is dihydroxyacetone - DHA - which is the active ingredient in all spray tan solutions. || DHA in mist form presents inhalation and skin absorption risks during application. The COSHH regulations require you to identify the substance, assess the likely level of exposure, consider who might be harmed, and document the controls you have in place to reduce that risk. This applies to self-employed technicians just as it does to employed workers. || A COSHH assessment is not a one-page form with a product name on it. It needs to reflect your actual working conditions - the specific product you use, the concentration, how the treatment is applied, how well ventilated your working space is, and what protective measures you use during treatments.
The real problem
Most COSHH assessments for spray tan technicians are either missing entirely or are too vague to be useful
The most common problem is technicians downloading a generic template and filling in the product name without addressing the specific risks of their working setup. A COSHH assessment for a mobile technician working in poorly ventilated bedrooms is very different to one for a technician in a purpose-built cabin with extraction. || Insurers and professional bodies are increasingly asking to see COSHH documentation. A vague or incomplete assessment may not satisfy those requests, and in the event of a client or personal injury claim, inadequate documentation can leave you exposed. || When you order through CompliantDocs, you tell us about your working setup, the products you use, and your controls. We generate a COSHH assessment that reflects your actual situation rather than a generic scenario that may not apply to you.
2 hours
The time most spray tan technicians spend trying to complete a proper COSHH assessment from scratch - and still not feeling confident the result is correct. Our service does it properly in minutes based on your answers.
Your trade, specifically
The risks and requirements specific to your work
Spray tan technicians work with dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the active tanning agent in most professional spray systems, typically at concentrations between 8-14%. You handle isopropyl alcohol as a carrier solvent, propylene glycol for skin conditioning, and often work with compressed air or nitrogen systems to atomise solutions into fine aerosol mists. Daily tasks include spraying clients in enclosed booths, mixing solutions, cleaning spray equipment with solvents, and applying guide colours containing FD&C dyes. Workplace hazards are substantial: inhalation of DHA mist and isopropyl alcohol vapours during application, dermal contact with concentrated solutions causing irritation, eye exposure from overspray, and respiratory sensitisation from repeated aerosol exposure in poorly ventilated spaces. Your equipment includes spray guns, air compressors, extraction systems, and application booths. Many technicians work from home-based studios or mobile locations with minimal ventilation, significantly amplifying chemical exposure risks. Storage of concentrated DHA solutions presents fire hazards due to alcohol content, and cross-contamination risks exist when handling multiple client consultations without proper hand hygiene protocols between appointments.
The cost of getting it wrong
What happens without proper documentation
Without proper COSHH Assessment documentation, spray tan technicians face serious legal and financial consequences. The HSE can issue Improvement Notices requiring immediate corrective action within specified timeframes, or Prohibition Notices stopping work entirely until compliance is demonstrated. Prosecution under COSHH Regulations carries unlimited fines, with recent cases against beauty businesses resulting in penalties exceeding £30,000. Your public liability and professional indemnity insurance may be invalidated if you cannot demonstrate documented risk assessments, leaving you personally liable for client injuries or occupational illness claims. Clients developing respiratory sensitisation or contact dermatitis can pursue claims against you directly. HSE investigations following serious incidents like allergic reactions or asthma exacerbation will scrutinise your assessment documentation; absence of records strengthens their prosecution case and suggests deliberate negligence. Your business reputation suffers irreparably from regulatory action. CompliantDocs delivers a comprehensive, done-for-you assessment pack tailored to your specific spray tan operation in minutes, costing a fraction of consultant fees while providing immediate compliance protection.