PR 2530

06 August 2009

COUNCIL CRACKDOWN ON TANNING SALONS

IT'S a no BBQ summer and Crawley Council is backing the tough message to sacrifice a tan for healthy skin.

The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment recently confirmed that sunbed use is definitely cancer causing.

The risk of getting the most deadly form of skin cancer (melanoma) is increased by 75% in people who use sunbeds regularly before the age of 30.

Angela Tanner, Head of Regulatory Services at Crawley Borough Council, said: "Environmental Health professionals have campaigned for increased controls over the more unscrupulous elements of the sunbed trade for a long time.

"It's an unregulated trade and it has caused increasing concern to us and all local authorities, particularly with the trend towards unstaffed salons and the ease with which young people seem to be able to get access to potentially lethal tanning equipment."

New guidance just released from the Health and Safety Executive now recommends that under-18s do not use sunbeds and that all coin-operated salons are supervised by trained staff.

Angela said: "We're keen to tackle rouges in the trade and we'll be backing national calls for improvements such as licensing of operators, prohibition of access for under 18s and the banning of unsupervised commercial sunbed outlets.

"In the meantime we will be making sure all local salons know about the HSE's recommendations and following up with visits to ensure they are complying with them."

If you have concerns about any local sun tanning studios or salons in the town please advise the Environmental Health team on 438562 or 438204

ENDS

Stacia Baldock

01293 438399

stacia.baldock@crawley.gov.uk