Hi Geeks,

I'm writing an article about safety at work for Professional Nails mag. How do you make sure you are safe as possible when you visit a new client if you are a mobile tech? Do you have a company policy to follow when a client becomes angry? Are there certain people you'd never take on as clients because you don't feel comfortable with them?

If you'd like to let me know how you deal with this aspect of safety at work please either PM, email or call me. I'd love to hear from you whether it is something that worries you or something that you feel you are in control of.

Thanks as ever,

Rachael

Rachael Glazier
Freelance journalist and food writer
Website: www.rachaelglazier.co.uk
Email: rachaelglazier@gmail.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 327 677
Mobile:+44 (0) 7939 258 172

When I was mobile I was always aware of my personal safety, and for new clients I would always make my family know the address of where I was going and what time I expected to be finished. Thankfully I was never made to feel at all worried. If I had a late appointment then I always made sure that I parked the car in a well lit area and I didn't take my handbag with me either.
I also used to carry my keys in my hand when going to and from the car as this is supposed to be a good personal weapon.

Working from a home salon is just as bad as you are actually inviting people into your own home. I have to say if I was ever unsire of someone on the phone then I'd be fully booked. It's only ever happened about twice I think, but I didn't feel comfortable with their attitude and so did not want a one to one with them.

From a personal safety aspect I have never done mobile or home salon treatments on men unless they are a friend or relative of an existing client. I have had to turn a lot of male business away which is a real shame, but they were very understanding when I was honest with them.

Thankfully I've never had a really angry client, but I don't think I would be confrontational. If I was in a salon environement I think it best to take them to one side out of view of the other clients, because for one it's embarassing for all concerned, and also some people just crave an audience and when they don't have it they do tend to calm down.

Acetone and a box of matches are good for security Soak em in acetone then chase em with a lit match (only joking).
I'm in Kings Cross (redlight and drug area) and if need be i'd defend myself and my client. I have had a bagsnatching incident (one in 20 years), I chased that a-hole for a block, cost me a very bloody nose, but I got the bag bag.

Thanks both of you - hmm, acetone and matches, I imagine if that was written on a poster in the salon it would make most people behave!
Cheers,
Rachael

I am mobile but very lucky as all my clients are through reccomendations so I always feel safe. Not sure how I would feel about doing clients in their own homes who I had no knowledge of before I arrived. If it is a male client I tell them that a female needs to be present during the treatment.

I'm mobile and have to say I've not had any safety incidents (yet!). I use a PDA for my appts which backs up to the home computer so my husband always knows where I am and has access to my clients phone numbers..... I always tell him the area I'm going to and roughly what time I'll be back. Also I always carry 2 mobile phones (one personal and one work) so he can always get hold of me.....

I do carry my handbag (never thought it would be a problem Sass tbh), and always try and park close to my clients house or on their drive. A few of them always watch at the door til I'm in my car.

As regards angry clients, I've not had one (yet!) and am not sure exactly how I'd handle it tbh. Knowing me I'd cut my losses and get out!!

I've not as yet turned down business but I would be very wary of accepting an appt with a man, unless I knew him previously. I kind of trust my instinct and would turn someone down on a gut instinct I think......

HTH's

being mobile you have to put your safety first, but you can never be 100% sure about the client when it is just someone who has phoned and booked an appointment,
whenever i went to a client i would have there details in my diary and also let my hubby know wharr i was going, i also have hubby on speed dial on the phone,
also i would hold my keys in my hand with the sharp bit of a key sticking out between 2 fingers so it would deliver some damage if i had to defend myself, i would keep the keys like this untill i was setting up in the home,
i have once been to a house whare i felt really uncomfortable, i have never completed a service so quick in my life

TBH I never really worried about my safety when I was mobile... but I mainly worked during school hours and had a good ol' chat to the potential client when they were booking to try to get a "feel" for them. Looking back, I realise how silly and naive I was. Though I have to admit I never had a problem.

The salon I work at now is in a low-income, housing commission, druggie neighbourhood and right near the high school with the WORST reputation on the coast.
I'm concerned because there is always something going on, people yelling and screaming out the front, the payphone being used for drug deals, cars doing burnouts in front of the shops... to name a few.
We cope with this by having a "banding together" kind of policy, no-one is ever at the salon alone - even though it's a tiny business (just the owner, hairdresser and myself). No-one opens up or leaves by themselves. There's very little cash on premises (most people use Eftpos these days). And we're only open when the convenience store next door is open.

We've been lucky not to have had any problems, I don't know how much our "safety" measures contribute to that, I'd be interested in hearing from other people who work in risky neighbourhoods and how they protect themselves.

I am mobile & my clients are ladies only.

I let my boyfriend know the address & how long I will be. Keep my mobile with me at all times & I always park in a well lit & busy area.

I have never had a client become angry & im honestly not sure what I would do if they were !

All of my clients live in busy areas or on residential estates in the areas that I know but if i had a new client that lived in a area i did not know/ or in the middle of no-where I would probably have a drive round first to check it out, some might think it a bit ott but better safe than sorry

When I am mobile, I have a ladies only policy. All of the men who have telephoned me, completely understand my position, and normally come to the hotel spa where I work, part time.

I don't normally feel nervous, as most of my new clients, are recommendations from my current clients. I always tell my husband where I'm going to be, and what time I'll be home. I carry my mobile phone with me, all the time.

I have to say though, at no point, have I every felt uncomfortable in any of my clients homes. Maybe, I've just been lucky.

Acetone and matches - trust Carl to come up with that one!!!!

I'm home based so I feel very safe......nice change...my other Salon was in a less desirable location.....

For mobile i park near to house keep door of car locked etc and i always carry a personal alarm, especially for when it is dark of an evening. have to say have never had any incidents though.

Home salon i always get someone to call me when client is there(new ones only) and we have a code, eg if all ok tell them i will call back, if a problem, then, can i rearrange your appointment for you. that way they know, not that its ever happened.

I always let my partner know where I am going, clients contact details etc. I fortunately haven't had any bad experiences and I think the only time I felt vunerable was when I was walking back to the car in a poorly lit street.

I always keep my car doors locked! I have thought about this though on many occasions, the problem is with me if I think about it tooo much I'd scare myself and never want to leave the house again in the dark.

I do do most of my clients during school hours.

Teri x

Hiya Guys

We should all fit alrms/buzzers on our doors
The beauty industry is getting bigger every day it's only a matter of time when thugs start targeting us.

Jenx

Thanks so much for all the posts, it's really interesting to hear the different ways in which you all work and what you do to keep safe.
Cheers,
Rachael x