The NSW government is cracking down on solarium operators after an audit revealed 98 per cent are failing to comply with regulations. Health (Cancer) Minister Frank Sartor told a news conference on Sunday that solarium operators who fail to meet health and safety standards will face "the full force of the law".
"Last year my department audited 89 solariums and the level of compliance with safety regulations was appalling," Mr Sartor said. "I have instructed follow-up audits to be conducted and I have ordered that solarium operators who are still flouting regulations be penalised to the full extent of the law."
A World Health Organisation (WHO) study last year put solarium use in the same cancer risk category as tobacco smoking, while a 2007 Queensland Institute for Medical Research study found solarium attendance by people under 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 98 per cent. In May 2009, the NSW government introduced new regulations that included requiring all solarium operators to join a compulsory registration scheme and undertake officially recognised training.
Of the 89 solariums audited by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water since September 2009, only two complied with the new rules.
Common non-compliance issues discovered in the audits included a lack of appropriate skin assessments, exposure times not being set in accordance with skin type, lack of tanning supervision and inappropriate eye protection.
The follow-up audits on non-compliant businesses will be conducted early this year, Mr Sartor said. Operators that fail the audit face fines of up to $11,000.
More:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nsw-government-cracks-down-on-solariums-20100117-me1d.html
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