Sunbed Safety

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards is carrying out a survey into the safety of sunbeds across the county.

At the start of this year, the county council’s Trading Standards Service began a survey into the levels of UV radiation of sunbeds. This followed work carried out by other authorities across England and Wales as a result of European legislation which dictates a ‘safe’ level of UV radiation that is emitted from the tubes of a sunbed (0.3 W/m2).

Health experts may disagree that there is any ‘safe’ level for sunbeds due to the links between the use of sunbeds and skin cancers.

However, Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds pointed out that there had never been a standard set before for sunbeds and Europe had now decided on an acceptable level which is what Trading Standards must work with.

Mr Edmunds said: “It is therefore vital that operators of sunbeds take their responsibility to supply a ‘safe’ product seriously and if the levels exceed this then the equipment is potentially ‘unsafe’ and contravenes the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.”

Trading Standards report that the failure rate overall on first inspection was 53 per cent which was disappointing but not as high as anticipated. However it was pleasing that the vast majority of businesses arranged for beds that had failed to be re-tubed as soon as possible.

A total of 47 per cent of traders operated sunbeds that passed on initial inspection and were then allowed to display a certificate to indicate this to consumers.

Trading Standards will continue to carry out inspections and testing on a regular basis in future which will not be by prior appointment, in line with all other business premises inspections within the authority.

Executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The main message is that all sunbed premises should now be on a level playing field with regard to the emission level of their beds.

“Consumers need to realise that they do not need to feel ‘burnt’ after using a bed in order for it to have had an effect.”

Since the introduction in Wales of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (Wales) Regulations 2011, there are additional requirements for sunbed operators including the prohibition on use by under 18’s, the ban on unmanned salons, adequate supervision and assistance with checking the clients skin type and the requirement to display statutory notices and information leaflets. In Carmarthenshire this is enforced by the Environmental Health team.

Any trader offering the commercial use of a sunbed who has not already done so, should inform the local authority on 01267 234567 and a visit from the relevant departments can be arranged.