What price for a tan? (From Watford Observer)

What price for a tan?

2:00pm Tuesday 18th August 2009 in

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Sunbed safety is the subject of a new health campaign being launched by Hertsmere Borough Council.

The authority has launched the initiative to highlight safety tips and warn of the dangers sunbed use can present.

Council officers will be out in the borough over the coming weeks offering tanning studios advice on sunbed safety.

They will be checking the borough's 20 businesses offering a sunbed service, including three in Radlett and five in Bushey, are operating safely and in accordance with the law.

Councillor Jean Heywood, portfolio holder for environmental health, said: "Council officers carry out an ongoing programme of inspections of all premises offering sunbed facilities.

“With the summer now in full swing, and people keen to get a golden glow, we have just written to all businesses with sunbeds in our area to let them know that they are going to be inspected again to ensure the continued health and safety of the public.”

National cases have shown that the potential risks from sunbeds can be greater in unsupervised facilities and in some cases customers were left with severe radiation burns after using coin-operated machines without any prior information or assistance.

The size of the tanning industry in the UK has continued to grow, and about ten per cent of the population regularly use sunbed facilities.

Recent research also shows that there is a shocking 75 percent increase in the risk of skin cancer by people who regularly use a sunbed.

Councillor Heywood added: “People should really think carefully about what price they are willing to pay for a golden glow. There are many other products available to do this and so using a sunbed is not necessarily the answer.”