Hugh James supports the regulation of tanning salons
25 I 09 I 2009
Jonathan Rees
The use of sunbeds,
especially by teenagers, has attracted much media interest
recently. It follows high-profile incidents involving teenagers
from South Wales who suffered severe burns after using unmanned
tanning salons.
A report by the Committee
on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (Comare) into
the impact of sunbeds recommends that an 18 age-limit is placed on
the use and hire of all sunbeds, bringing them into line with
tobacco and alcohol. Its findings could lead the Welsh Assembly
Government to increase regulation of tanning salons.
Furthermore, a local
council has called for a change in the law on unsupervised sunbeds
after removing them from its leisure centres. The Vale of Glamorgan
council has decided to remove sunbeds from its leisure centres
after the British Medical Association (BMA) raised concerns over
access to unsupervised tanning salons and the serious health risks
they pose. Dr Richard Lewis of BMA Wales stated that just one
sunbed tanning session per month can double an individual’s annual
exposure to UV radiation and greatly increase the risk of cancer,
skin and eye problems.
Jonathan Rees is a
partner at Hugh James with experience of helping people who have
been injured as a result of beauty treatments going wrong. He
applauds the calls, saying: “Sunbed tanning, like any number of
treatments offered by the burgeoning beauty and spa industries, can
often result in harmful and serious consequences. Many treatments
and providers of such services are completely unregulated, and the
potential for injury and unwanted side effects is considerable. Any
call to prioritise consumer safety in this area wins our
support.”
The Welsh Assembly
Government has been asked to examine whether the industry needs
tighter regulation to protect children and young people from the
dangers of unstaffed tanning salons.
Jonathan Rees adds: “We
have seen an increase in the number of claims for compensation as a
result of beauty treatments going wrong, including burns, skin
damage, hair loss, scarring and permanent disfigurement. As long as
the beauty industry remains unregulated, it seems many will be
unwittingly exposed to significant risks.”
For further information
contact:
Jonathan Rees, Partner, Hugh James on 029 2022
4871
or email jonathan.rees@hughjames.com