Of course, the answer is yes, whether you’re carrying out one treatment a week or fifty. Yet time and again, therapists and nail techs convince themselves it’s a waste of money, an added expense that they can do without.

Read on and I’ll explain how spending a few pounds a year could save you hundreds of thousands in the long-run.

As a therapist or nail tech, you are working within a professional field and being paid for your services, regardless of where you work, be that home, salon or mobile. Therefore, you are responsible for your clients’ wellbeing whilst you are treating them and whilst they are on your premises or you are working in their home.

Furthermore, if you use proprietary products, such as skin or nail products, these can, in some incidences, cause reactions on some clients, for which you are also responsible.

Remember, even if you cause injury to a client or damage to their property accidently, you would still be liable.

Maybe it is because life gets in the way, or insurance is viewed as boring or too complicated to understand, but a surprising and concerning number of practicing therapists and nail techs do not have insurance, leaving them open to personally paying out claims of hundreds of thousands of pounds should the worst happen.

To highlight the financial liability you could be facing if you were not insured, here are three recent typical claims:

Public Liability Claim:

Client fell, slipped and accidental injury was caused. Claimant suffered a smashed vertebra resulting in an operation to insert metal plates.

Reserved / Paid Amount: £140,431

Treatment Risk / Product Liability Claim:

Acrylic & UV Gel Nails

Client alleges that having had acrylic nails applied, she sustained a burning sensation on the evening. Blistering appeared, and a day later her nail beds were swollen. GP prescribed antibiotic cream and signed her off work to try and stop an infection occurring.

Reserved / Paid Amount: £48,970

Treatment Risk Claim

Eyelashes Extensions

Client alleges to have suffered an injury after eyelash extensions.

After attending A&E, it was confirmed that claimant had glue on the iris of the eye.

Reserved / Paid Amount: £8,989

So, you can see, regardless of the ethical and moral reasons that you should be insured, from a financial perspective insurance is a must.

Choosing the right insurance

There are a number of insurance providers offering cover for those working in our sector. I would recommend using a company that is a specialist within the beauty and nail industry and really understands what you do.

It’s also important that you choose the right policy for you. Don’t underestimate the amount of insurance cover you will need, for example ABT’s Beauty Therapy policy includes £6 million each of Professional Liability Insurance, Public Liability Insurance, Product Liability Insurance, and Medical Malpractice/Treatment Risk Insurance for just £73.50 a year.

Before you commit to purchasing insurance, check the policy wording and small print to ensure:

• The policy is ‘claims occurring’ wording. In my opinion you should steer clear of ‘claims made’ wordings for this industry, as they tend not to give you long term protection after you stop the policy.
• The package includes Treatments Risk or Medical Malpractice Insurance as well as Professional Liability Insurance, Public Liability Insurance, and Product Liability Insurance.
• You are aware of exclusions, claims excesses, patch tests requirements, extra charges and endorsements.
• You can add new treatments to the policy as your skills grow.

If you choose your policy through an industry association such as ABT you can also take advantage of additional membership benefits, such as a free subscription to a trade magazine (Scratch or Guild News), online listing on the BeautyandHairdressing Salon Finder, VIP trade show entry, along with free business support and being part of a nationally-recognised organisation. What’s more, should you get a complaint made against you, you will have the guidance of an experienced team of industry experts behind you to support and advise you.

Taking out adequate beauty therapy or nail technician insurance is a must. Not only does it give you financial protection, but also gives you the peace of mind that should the worst happen, you’re not on your own.

Dave Horton is Director of Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT), the industry’s leading membership and insurance provider representing over 19,000 beauty and hair professionals. For more information telephone 01789 773573, email info@abtinsurance.co.uk or visit http://www.abtinsurance.co.uk/