Monitoring the safety of sunbeds and tanning booths
Using a sunbed (or tanning booth) is never recommended. Sunbeds expose users to higher levels of dangerous UV radiation than the sun. They increase your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. They are not a safe way to tan or boost your vitamin D.
You’re more at risk of skin cancer the more often you use sunbeds, and the younger you start using them. Your skin will also age more quickly.
Community and Public Health surveys businesses offering sunbed services twice a year, to ensure that they are meeting the necessary Standard (AS/NZS 2635:2008 Solaria for cosmetic purposes).
Community and Public Health provides the following documents to assist sun-bed operators comply with the Standard:
- Example of a client consent form for solaria [28KB] – updated July 2019.
- Example of a client interview record including a skin type assessment for solaria [87KB].
Updated regulations on use of sunbeds and tanning booths
An amendment to the Health Act and further regulations from the Ministry of Health on sunbeds means that a fine of up to $10,000 can be imposed for providing sunbed services to those under 18 years of age.
If in doubt, sunbed operators should ask to see evidence of age. Acceptable forms of identification are a passport, driver’s licence or a Hospitality New Zealand ID.
Sunbed or tanning booth operators should consider:
- discouraging sunbed services to persons with particular skin types or that are at increased risk of skin cancer;
- gaining informed consent of users before they artificially tan;
- having controls on supplying sunbed services, including requiring a 48-hour gap between sessions, and limiting the length of sessions;
- ensuring those operating sunbeds are well trained.
- having procedures around not providing sunbed services to those aged under 18 years. This may include taking copies of supplied client identification supplied or recording information on the client’s card (such as passport or drivers licence number).
More information for sunbed operators is available on the Ministry of Health website.
Documents
For sunbed operators
- Information sheet on the ban for under 18s using sunbed services (Community and Public Health).
- Draft Revised Guidelines for operators of UV tanning lamps (EMF Services 2013).
- Shining a light on sunbeds: The attitudes of NZ youth to sunbed use and tanning (University of Otago 2011).
For users of sunbeds and solaria
- Consumer NZ advice on sunbeds.
- Melanoma deaths (Environmental Health Indicators Programme – Massey University 2019).
- Non-melanoma skin cancer deaths (Environmental Health Indicators Programme – Massey University 2019).
Links
- Sunbeds (Ministry of Health).
- EMF Services.
- SunSmart (Health Promotion Agency).
- Melanoma New Zealand.
For further information on sunbeds, contact:
Jimmy Wong
Ph: +64 3 364 1777