Barbers and hairdresser were caught breaching Covid rules

OFFICIALS caught five barbers and a hairdresser breaching coronavirus regulations in Bridgend county borough in the weeks after the Welsh Government allowed them to reopen.

Bridgend council staff temporarily closed one barber shop and gave improvement notices to five other premises between Tuesday March 23 and Saturday March 27.

Officers from the Shared Regulatory Service (SRS) issued a closure notice to Ozzy’s Hair Salon, Prince Road, Kenfig Hill on March 26 because staff were not wearing correct PPE, there was no booking system in place and staff were trimming beards. Officials gave them until Monday, March 29, to comply with the rules.

SRS staff gave improvement notices to Nali’s Barber Shop (Wyndham Street, Bridgend), Istanbul Barbers (Wyndham Street, Bridgend), Blackout Barbers (Caroline Street, Bridgend), and Klipz Hairdressers (Pisgah Street, Kenfig Hill) on March 23, for not wearing correct PPE. They were given 24 hours to ensure all staff wear both Type IIR face masks and visors while working.

M&M Barbers (Commercial Street, Maesteg) was also issued an improvement notice because staff were not wearing correct PPE and given 24 hours to comply with regulations.

Barbers and hairdressers were allowed to reopen in Wales from Monday, March 15.

Sam Webb, who owns Blackout Barbers, said his staff had been caught working with face masks but without visors when the improvement notice was issued. He said staff were wearing visors while cutting hair but did not realise they needed to wear them at all times.

Mr Webb said he has installed social distancing markers and hand sanitiser in all his premises and staff are only taking appointments via bookings.

Ahmed Ali, manager of M&M Barber, said the current regulations have heavily restricted business.

“I don’t see why we can’t do beards as you’re just standing in front of the customer when you do their hair at the same distance when you’re trimming beards. It doesn’t make sense to me. They should either keep us closed completely or let us carry on.”

Mr Ali said beard trimming is a popular service at M&M Barber and without it, business has fallen by around 50% forcing them to limit the number of staff working daily. “Beards are quite fashionable now so a lot of my customers have their hair cut and beards done at the same time. Now we’re only allowed to do hair and the money we make will hardly cover everything like bills, rent and wages.”