Animal Care
Pet Grooming Risk Assessment Template
The complete guide to creating professional risk assessments for pet grooming salons and mobile groomers.
Free to use Instant PDF download Updated February 2026
The essential guide to pet grooming safety
Pet grooming is a growing industry providing essential hygiene and care services for companion animals. From bathing and brushing to nail trimming and styling, groomers handle a variety of animals with different temperaments and needs.
This guide covers all the key hazards in grooming environments—from handling anxious or aggressive pets and managing slip hazards to ensuring proper ventilation and safe use of electrical equipment.
Animal Welfare
Animal Welfare
Activity Benefits
Why pet grooming matters
Pet Hygiene
Improves pet hygiene and overall health through regular bathing and grooming.
Health Detection
Supports early detection of skin conditions, lumps, and abnormalities.
Comfort
Enhances pet comfort by removing matting, overgrown nails, and excess hair.
Home Environment
Reduces shedding and allergens, benefiting pet owners and indoor environments.
Risk Identification
Key hazards & control measures
Animal Bites & ScratchesHigh Risk
Potential Harm
Bites, puncture wounds, infections from stressed or aggressive animals during grooming.
Control Measures
- Staff trained in animal behavior and handling
- Muzzles available for aggressive pets
- Take breaks if animal shows stress signs
- First aid kit immediately accessible
Slippery FloorsHigh Risk
Potential Harm
Slips, trips, and falls due to wet floors from bathing and grooming activities.
Control Measures
- Non-slip mats in wet areas
- Regular floor cleaning schedule
- Proper drainage systems installed
- Staff wear non-slip footwear
Burns from EquipmentMedium Risk
Potential Harm
Burns from clippers, dryers, and heated grooming tools on both staff and animals.
Control Measures
- Regular equipment temperature checks
- Cool-down periods between uses
- Staff trained in equipment use
- Equipment maintained and serviced
Chemical ExposureMedium Risk
Potential Harm
Skin irritation, eye damage, respiratory issues from shampoos, conditioners, and cleaning agents.
Control Measures
- Adequate ventilation in salon
- Gloves worn when handling chemicals
- Products stored safely
- Safety data sheets available
This guide covers the most common hazards. Our risk assessment wizard includes 29 hazards and 29+ control measures for Pet Grooming, sourced from industry guidance — create your assessment in minutes.
Safety Checklist
Pet grooming safety checklist
Animal Handling
- Staff trained in restraint techniques
- Muzzles and restraints available
- Calming techniques documented
- Grooming tables secure and stable
Equipment
- Clippers and blades inspected
- Dryers functioning correctly
- Electrical equipment PAT tested
- Scissors and tools sanitized
Environment
- Non-slip flooring installed
- Adequate ventilation working
- Lighting sufficient for tasks
- Temperature comfortable for animals
Emergency
- First aid kit stocked
- Emergency vet contact displayed
- Fire extinguisher accessible
- Incident reporting in place
Ready to create your pet grooming risk assessment?
Use our step-by-step wizard to generate a professional risk assessment in minutes.
