Overview
The Personal Services Regulation and Personal Services Standards establish minimum health and safety requirements for the personal services industry.
- The regulation sets out general business requirements and higher-level obligations for operators and workers.
- The standards support the regulation by establishing detailed operational requirements for protecting public health.
The regulation and standards were amended to address issues and gaps that have been identified since they were last amended in 2003. The changes to the regulation and standards are designed to place minimal administrative and financial burden on businesses and align with similar protections implemented in other provinces.
Amendments to the regulation and standards were based on:
- a lengthy review of current literature and evidence;
- reports of customer concerns, reports of injuries and infections; and
- collaborative discussions with professional associations, business owners and industry stakeholders.
The changes to the regulation and standards are intended to:
- minimize the risk of preventable infections and injuries
- improve clarity on the requirements for proper cleaning, disinfection and sterilization
- ensure workers have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform important tasks and operate complex equipment
- better reflect the evolving industry landscape
- improve support for businesses from Alberta Health Services
- eliminate unnecessary requirements that have become obsolete over time
As of July 1, 2020, all personal services businesses are required to follow the amended Personal Services Regulation and Personal Services Standards.
Legislation
- Amended Personal Services Regulation – comes into force July 1, 2020
- Amended Personal Services Standards – comes into force July 1, 2020
Definition of a personal service
Personal services have been redefined in order to make sure that basic health and safety rules apply to more of today’s popular services.
Under the Personal Services Regulation, a personal service means any of the following activities performed on, in, or to a person’s skin, hair, nails or teeth, or other parts of the body of a person, for the primary purpose of enhancing, preserving or altering the person’s appearance:
- puncturing
- cutting
- shaving
- exfoliating
- applying pressure
- inserting, implanting, attaching or removing objects
- applying suction
- using energy-emitting equipment
- removing
- styling
- applying or injecting cosmetic products
What is affected
Regulated personal services now include, but are not limited to:
- barbering
- body and ear piercing (using guns or needles)
- body wraps
- branding
- chemical hair colouring, straightening and curling
- chemical peels
- cosmetic cryotherapy
- cryolipolysis (cool sculpting)
- dermal jewelry anchoring
- dermal filler injection
- dermal rolling
- earlobe stretching
- electrolysis
- esthetic cupping
- eyebrow threading
- face and body painting
- facial and body waxing
- facials
- hair extension
- haircutting and hairstyling
- henna
- lash and brow tinting
- lash extension
- laser and cosmetic tattoo removal
- laser hair re-growth and restoration
- laser hair removal
- manicure
- microblading
- microderm abrasion
- mud treatments
- neuromodulator injection (botox)
- pedicure
- permanent make-up
- scarification
- shaving
- skin exfoliation
- spray tanning
- tattooing
- teeth whitening
- tooth decoration
- ultraviolet (UV) tanning (tanning beds)
- vaginal rejuvenation
Information for businesses
Effective July 1, 2020, all personal services businesses, owners, and employees are required to comply with the new Personal Services Regulation and the Personal Services Standards. Businesses must notify Alberta Health Services prior to offering any new or existing service to the public
Enforcement
Compliance with the legislation is promoted and monitored by public health inspectors from Alberta Health Services through a variety of activities, including inspection, education and, where necessary, enforcement.
Resources
- The Alberta Gazette, Part 2, January 31, 2020 - Alberta Regulation 1/2020
- COVID-19 Guidance for Personal Services
Contact
Report injuries, infections or concerns about potential violations to Alberta Health Services.
Website: Make a complaint
For questions or concerns regarding the Personal Services Regulation and Personal Services Standards: