The mercury regularly rises above 25 degrees Celsius again, so it's high time to get myself a summer hairstyle. I have been going to the same hair salon in the village where I live for years. It is a small salon where hip ladies with just a little too much make-up on everyone expertly provide a new cut. After entering the salon, I am put on hold by an intern who kindly offers me a cup of coffee at the large oval table in the salon. Customer friendliness is of paramount importance. As I look through the sports section of the newspaper, I see a number of older ladies sitting under large buzzing hoods, undergoing the last minutes of their curl and color treatment. After this it's my turn. Isabelle walks over to me and cordially invites me to take a seat at the sink. Isabelle is the owner of the salon. Her hair is just a little too blonde, her fake nails are neatly painted and have a cool motif. She is wearing heeled shoes where it is a wonder that you can even stand on them. After I am directed to the uncomfortable chair at the sink, Isabelle starts to lather my hair. While washing my hair and the inevitable scalp massage, she tells me that it has been a very busy week in the salon. I allow myself to be tempted to ask a question. Normally, hairdressers have little trouble talking about a half-hour haircut without you saying anything, but when you ask them a question, it seems like a license not to turn their hearts into a murder pit and to be completely empty about it. ups and downs in the salon. Anyway, the question has been asked. How come these are such busy weeks? Isabelle tells me that her colleague Anneke has been home sick for 15 weeks due to shoulder and neck complaints. This means that she and her employees now have to cover Anneke's hours, which means that everyone is structurally working hours overtime. Apart from the extra effort it requires from itself and its employees, there are also the additional costs of absenteeism. She suddenly has to deal with a company doctor and occupational health and safety services, even though she doesn't feel like it at all after a hard day's work in the salon. She then wants to go home and lie down in a warm bath with a good book. After listening to Isabelle's argument, I ask her another question. After all, I'm there anyway and I can't leave for the next 20 minutes. I ask her what they do in the hair salon to prevent occupational diseases. After all, prevention is better than cure, right? Have they thought about adapted hairdressing furniture, salon layout and working postures? It is very important for her and her colleagues to prevent physical strain and 'RSI-like movements' as much as possible. For example, does the salon pay sufficient attention to variety in posture and movement? Do they use ergonomically sound materials (for example: well-adjustable pump chairs, hairdressing bicycles, well-adjustable wash basins and scissors with little finger rests)? Is there sufficient work space in and around the chair in which the customer sits (pump chair, sink), so that the hairdresser does not have to bend over backwards or reach too far to do the work? Where normally a flood of words from the hairdresser in question would roll over me, now it remains eerily silent. She starts by blow-drying away the loose hairs from my neck area and shows the back of my hairstyle in the mirror. The length is fine. My new haircut is finished. When leaving the salon, Isabelle greets me kindly and says: “Shall I order a color rinse for next time, in the context of prevention? After all, prevention is better than cure!” I think she understands!

Stan van Gestel Labor expert Werkmans