Tanning Salon Fined for Putting Customers at Risk of Burns
A tanning salon in Wales has been fined £15,000 for failing to comply with health and safety regulations, putting customers at risk of burns. Tantastic Blackwood Ltd, located in Tredegar at Commercial Street, was found to have breached several sunbed regulations, as revealed during a hearing at Newport Magistrates’ Court. The director of the company, David Bryn Williams, represented Tantastic in court, where it was disclosed that the salon had repeatedly failed to meet the required standards despite undergoing multiple inspections over the years.
The failings highlighted in the case included the salon’s failure to provide customers with essential health information before using the sunbeds, inadequate assessment of customers’ skin types leading to potential burns, lack of protective eyewear enforcement, and absence of training records for younger staff members. The prosecutor, Hayley Hawkins, acting on behalf of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, stated that the charges against Tantastic included not ensuring proper supervision for sunbed users, insufficient training for supervisors, failure to display health information visibly, and negligence in ensuring the use of protective eyewear.
During inspections carried out in 2020, 2023, and 2024, it was noted that Tantastic had received warnings from the council regarding non-compliance with regulations, yet no significant improvements were made. In one instance, a customer incorrectly self-reported their skin type as five, when it was actually two, indicating a higher risk of burns. This oversight highlighted the importance of supervisory involvement in assessing customers’ skin types rather than solely relying on self-reporting.
The court heard that the absence of proper safety measures led to customers using the sunbeds without adequate knowledge of the potential risks to their skin. Additionally, the company was found to have disregarded the requirement to ensure customers wore protective eyewear while using the sunbeds, despite having goggles available on-site. Furthermore, there were no documented records of training or supervision for younger staff, although the company claimed to conduct retraining every four months.
In response to the charges, Mr. Williams accepted guilt on behalf of the company and cooperated with the investigation to resolve the matter outside of a trial, acknowledging the shortcomings in supervision at the salon. Reflecting on the case, District Judge Sophie Toms emphasised the responsibility of businesses like Tantastic in safeguarding vulnerable members of society, particularly young customers concerned about their appearance. The company was ordered to pay an £8,500 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £5,000 in prosecution costs.
The ruling serves as a cautionary tale for businesses operating in the tanning industry, underlining the vital importance of adhering to health and safety regulations to protect customers from potential harm. It also underscores the role of regulatory bodies and legal proceedings in upholding industry standards and ensuring accountability for lapses in compliance. Moving forward, it is essential for tanning salons to prioritize customer safety through thorough training, supervision, and adherence to established guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future.