AusLeisure

A Consumer NZ mystery shop of sunbed operators has again highlighted poor practices in the industry.

With solarium operators in New Zealand supposedly working to a voluntary sunbed standard, Consumer NZ found two operators that let an underage shopper have a sunbed session, while six let a person with fair skin that burns easily use a sunbed.

Commenting on the survey, Consumer NZ Chief Executive Sue Chetwin said the operators’ behaviour was a significant concern.

Chetwin advised “using a sunbed is a health risk regardless of age or skin type but people under 18 or with fair skin are at greater risk of suffering lasting and serious damage.”

Consumer NZ’s mystery shoppers also visited 40 operators to check compliance with key safety guidelines in the voluntary sunbed standard.

Commenting on these results, Chetwin added “we found little improvement in overall compliance since our 2015 survey. 45% of operators failed to implement basic checks.”

Under the voluntary standard, people using a sunbed should be given a consent form to sign to ensure they’re over 18, informed of the risks of sunbed use and made aware of the importance of wearing protective goggles.

13 operators didn’t provide shoppers with a consent form while eight operators didn’t do a formal skin assessment, which is important because certain skin types are more susceptible to UV damage. Eye protection is also essential because UV rays can damage your eyes and increase your risk of getting cataracts.

Two Christchurch operators didn’t provide any eye protection at all.

Chetwin continued “we’ve been mystery shopping sunbeds for more than a decade and the results have been consistently disappointing.

“Operators ignore or don’t understand the requirements, and this isn’t adequately protecting consumers. With New Zealand’s high rate of skin cancer, it’s time sunbeds were banned.”

While commercial sunbed operations are already banned in every Australian state and territory except the Northern Territory, Australasian Leisure Management has become aware of a solarium black market with sunbed operators illegally offering private rooms for tanning.

With the use of UV tanning beds for private use at home still being legal some rogue operators have taken their businesses underground.

Demand for the service is high with online classifieds sites showing hundreds of ads posted by people across the country seeking to use privately-owned sunbeds in return for payment.

Those found guilty of commercialisation under new laws banning commercial use of solariums face fines of up to $44,000.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer states using a tanning device before age 30 increases the risk of melanoma by 75%.

For more information on Consumer NZ’s survey, which saw mystery shoppers visited 58 sunbed operators in specialist sunbed establishments, fitness centres, hairdressers, beauty therapists and nail salons, go to www.consumer.org.nz

Lower image shows online advertisements for sunbed use in Australia.

3rd December 2016 - RESEARCH SHOWS COMMERCIAL SUNBED BAN WOULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON JOBS 

12th Octobber 2016 - COMING SUNBED RESTRICTIONS PROMPTS CALLS FOR NEW ZEALAND BAN

21st September 2016 - NEW ZEALAND COUNCILS LOOK AT ROLE OF SHADE COVERS IN UV PROTECTION

18th December 2015 - NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT LOOKS AT FURTHER SUNBED RESTRICTIONS

23rd December 2014 - SUN SETS ON COMMERCIAL TANNING BEDS 

14th December 2014 - NEW ZEALAND MOVES FORWARD WITH SUNBED RESTRICTIONS 

18th November 2013 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO BAN SUNBEDS AS ABC REPORTS ON TANNING BLACK MARKET

6th September 2013 - VICTORIA BANS COMMERCIAL TANNING UNITS FROM 2015

10th December 2011 - KIWI SUNBED OPERATORS FAIL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

30th July 2009 - 'NO DOUBT' SUNBEDS CAUSE CANCER

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