Standards for spa and wellness are key and the APSWC is committed to doing everything in our collective power to help and support our members and the broader industry. The following are our recommendations of operational standards for spa and wellness industry operators in a post-COVID-19 world. At first glance, standards for spa and wellness may seem challenging, but they are for the betterment of all and it is recommended that serious consideration is given for their implementation.

• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene, and wear gloves when cleaning
• Clean with soap and water to remove germs, dirt, and impurities from all surfaces
• Disinfect with chemical products to kill germs
• Sanitise to lower the number of germs on surfaces

PREVENTION

1. Post information about the prevention of disease transmission to raise awareness among staff. Include details on social distancing, washing hands, wearing masks, and other relevant information on notice boards
   
2. Meet or exceed all municipality or government regulatory guidelines on sanitation and hygiene
   
3. Clean and sterilize all utensils and equipment used after each treatment
   
4. Conduct staff temperature checks every day before starting work

• If anyone has temperature of 37.5° C or higher, and a cough, runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat they should they should return home. 
• If not improved in two days, or if their condition worsens, contact a medical professional.
• If confirmed to have COVID-19 the employee must be quarantined in accordance with public health authority guidelines.
• The employer should contact their local public health authority to implement the disease control measures respectively.
  • survey the colleagues, who may meet the criteria of contact persons at-risk
  • contact persons at-risk must immediately stop work and enter quarantine for 14 days after the last date of exposure to the confirmed case

5. Clean Work Spaces

• Increase awareness among all staff of the risk of contamination of viral agents.
• Provide staff with masks (medical or fabric) and gloves while working.
• Surfaces to be cleaned frequently should include desks, door handles, computers, work supplies, and cleaning equipment.
  • Use 70% alcohol cleaning solution, or
  • Water with 6% bleach (caution: bleach smell can linger), or
  • 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (undiluted) to disinfect all surfaces
• Use caution when emptying rubbish bins as contents may be contaminated. Secure bags tightly before disposal. Wash hands afterward.

6. Protect Employee Health

• Before working, prepare a cloth mask or hygienic mask
• Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or use alcohol gel
• Do not share personal belongings (including mobile phones)
• If you have symptoms, you must take a leave of absence and immediately inform management
• Protect employee privacy
• Prevent employees who are sick from entering guest areas or interacting with other staff
• Conduct and document all employee training in company cleaning and hygiene standards
• Wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds at the start and end of a treatment/service
• Fully clean and sanitise treatment rooms after each treatment/service, replacing all linens with freshly laundered items
• Wear gloves when handling all linens (soiled or clean)
• Minimise use of communal spaces
• Provide full refunds to guests unable to make their appointment due to illness with advance notice
• Customers should refrain from visiting the spa if sick or are under quarantine (note the cancellation or no-show policy)
• Customers must respect the facility’s cleaning and hygiene standards as posted
• Customers must shower before each body treatment/service
• Customers must wash their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds prior to beginning each hand or foot treatment/service
• Customers must wear a face mask during all hand/nail/hair/foot treatment/services

7. Reopen The Facility

• Wear appropriate protective attire, clean all surfaces and equipment with soapy water or appropriate cleaning solution.
• Remove all magazines and books from public areas.
• Remove all testers (provide testers on request if necessary).
• Check steam/saunas/wet areas for appropriate ventilation and remove and treat any mould or bacterial growths. Clean and sanitize all surfaces including steam/sauna/shower ceilings.
• Deep clean wet areas with a low-pressure steam cleaner to remove excess residual dirt and body oils from surfaces prior to cleaning and disinfecting.
• Ozone gas (O3) is toxic to humans but has been cited as an effective disinfectant for use in hydrothermal areas. Its use requires the installation of ozone gas generators that can be controlled remotely. These machines generate high concentrations of ozone gas, which disinfect the area before the ozone turns back into oxygen (O2). 
• Fitness areas should follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning.  To disinfect, spray a lint-free cloth with the solution and wipe. Do not spray equipment directly, and avoid moisture coming into contact with electrical equipment.
• Encourage booked rather than walk-in appointments, so that guests can arrive and be processed in a timely manner with minimal interaction with others.
• Greet guests without shaking hands. Wipe all guest contact points (pens / questionnaires / tablets) with disinfectant.
• UV-C lamps are used by hospitals and are an effective sterilization method.  They must be treated with respect and safety protocols MUST be adhered to, as the level of radiation required for sterilization can be detrimental to humans. Far UV-C lamps (222nm) are the gold standard.
• Negatively pressured rooms are effectively isolation rooms to contain infections in a medial environment. If utilized, must be used in conjunction with an effective room sanitization control.
• ECA Water is a main-stream product used as an environmentally sensitive alternative to chemical products and is widely used across multiple industry sectors (including hospitality and agricultural) as a cleaning and disinfection product. ECA technology employs an environmentally sensitive biocide water system technology that is effective in eliminating all forms of micro-organisms. The pH neutral, non-toxic and non-hazardous water is effective against all bacteria, viruses, cysts, protozoa, algae and spores with no mutation or resistance while maintaining a very small environmental footprint

IMPORTANT:  These recommended standards for spa and wellness industry are provided for information only and do not constitute a legal commitment between the APSWC, its board, or representatives. Local, state, and national authorities will advise on changes in your city/state/country and it is their guidance that must be adhered to at all times to reduce the spread of viruses.