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Head Lice
Do you cut their hair—don’t you cut their hair?
It is up to you. But consider these facts.
Question: Do Health Regulations prohibit hairdressers from cutting the hair of a person with head lice or nits?
Answer: NO
FACTS
- Head lice can be found on the cleanest of hair.
- They thrive in clean hair.
- Anyone can catch head lice.
- They do not make you sick.
- It’s not a disgrace.
- Head lice do not jump, fly or swim.
- They can be caught only by close head to head contact.
Question: Can a hairdresser cut hair if the hairdresser has head lice?
Answer: NO
- Hairdressing Establishment Regulations prohibit any hairdresser that is suffering from any infectious or contagious disease, skin rash or eruption or verminous infestation, from attending a customer.
Question: If a hairdresser cuts the hair of someone with head lice or nits do they need to take any special precautions?
Answer: NO
- There are no special precautions. As with all other clients the cleaning requirements as contained in the Hairdressing Establishment Regulation must be complied with.
Question: Can a hairdresser refuse to cut the hair of a person who has head lice or nits?
Answer: YES, but not on health grounds.
- Hairdressers have a general right at common law to refuse service.
- This refusal would rely on the general right of a hairdresser to contract, as he or she thinks fit.
- Common law in modern society is, by legislation, subject to many exceptions Modern statutes forbid a person the right to refuse to contract on the grounds of the sex, racial group or sexual inclination of the would be contractor.
- It is up to each individual hairdresser to decide how they will approach this problem.
This is very certain, clients will appreciate a professional and caring approach from their hairdresser.
For further information regarding head lice please contact Chris Brenton from the Health Department on 9388 4857 or to obtain a Head Lice Fact Sheet contact the publication department on 1300 135 030 or go to the Health Department website to download a copy.
