After alarming 2009 controls’ results, CTIA stiffed surveillance over sunbeds. It focused especially on abidance with requirements on the overall erythema-effective radiation, i.e. red skin irritated by solarium radiation. Last year’s results already brought improvements – while in 2009 more than 62% of examined apparatuses failed, in 2010 33,4% did not pass controls.
“We can see that the solarium studios once checked by CTIA inspectors become more careful concerning their apparatuses’ safety. Repeated controls are mostly without any defects or problems are minor,” Minister Kocourek adds.
Stiffer supervision has also brought information to sunbeds owners. Within control activities, inspectors almost do not meet entrepreneurs who fail to have at least basic knowledge and information concerning the use of pure quality apparatuses and impacts on customers’ health.
„However, exchange of old tubes or halogen lamps for new ones that meet new harmonized standard’s requirements is financially demanding which is why we still find sunbed studios hesitating when it comes to exchanging and using old nonconforming tubes or lamps. There are also cases when tubes and lamps were exchanged, but the new types are not suitable and still do not meet the overall erythema-effective radiation 0.3 W/m2,” says Jan Štěpánek, the Acting Director General of the CTIA. “This is why controls of sunbeds continue this year, too.”
Last year, inspectors carried out the total of 41 controls using an exact radio spectrometer and examined 47 solar apparatuses. 19 of these did not meet requirements of the standard on the overall erythema-effective radiation.
Other 354 solar apparatuses in 192 commercial subjects were checked by hand orientation spectrometers. Inspectors found violations of the limiting value for effective radiation in 115 solar apparatuses.
“We can see that the solarium studios once checked by CTIA inspectors become more careful concerning their apparatuses’ safety. Repeated controls are mostly without any defects or problems are minor,” Minister Kocourek adds.
Stiffer supervision has also brought information to sunbeds owners. Within control activities, inspectors almost do not meet entrepreneurs who fail to have at least basic knowledge and information concerning the use of pure quality apparatuses and impacts on customers’ health.
„However, exchange of old tubes or halogen lamps for new ones that meet new harmonized standard’s requirements is financially demanding which is why we still find sunbed studios hesitating when it comes to exchanging and using old nonconforming tubes or lamps. There are also cases when tubes and lamps were exchanged, but the new types are not suitable and still do not meet the overall erythema-effective radiation 0.3 W/m2,” says Jan Štěpánek, the Acting Director General of the CTIA. “This is why controls of sunbeds continue this year, too.”
Last year, inspectors carried out the total of 41 controls using an exact radio spectrometer and examined 47 solar apparatuses. 19 of these did not meet requirements of the standard on the overall erythema-effective radiation.
Other 354 solar apparatuses in 192 commercial subjects were checked by hand orientation spectrometers. Inspectors found violations of the limiting value for effective radiation in 115 solar apparatuses.
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Controls with hand spectrometer 7.5 Ery
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Controls with radio spectrometer OL756
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Number of controls
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Number of examined apparatuses - sunbeds
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Number nonconforming apparatuses - sunbeds
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Number of controls
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Number of examined apparatuses - sunbeds
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Number nonconforming apparatuses - sunbeds
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|
192
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354
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115
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41
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47
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19
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Results of sunbeds examinations in 2011
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Total number of controls
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Number of examined apparatuses - sunbeds
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Number nonconforming apparatuses - sunbeds
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Number nonconforming apparatuses - sunbeds %
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233
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401
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134
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33,4 %
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International cooperation
Already in 2008, the Czech Trade Inspection joined the common European surveillance campaign - organized by the European association PROSAFE - focused on sunbeds, more precisely called devices used to care for skin through ultraviolet and infrared radiation. The first part of the campaign solely concerned abidance with safety requirements when operating sunbed studios (fitness, wellness, beauty salons and so forth).
Media campaign held in 2009 the same as further education – especially the international conference ESA-PROSAFE on sunbed studios co-organized by the CTIA in March 2010 where doctors, dermatologists, representatives of industry and public administration participated – positively influenced the situation in the market and contributed to the increase of knowledge about hazards related to sunbeds both among operators and their customers.
Media campaign held in 2009 the same as further education – especially the international conference ESA-PROSAFE on sunbed studios co-organized by the CTIA in March 2010 where doctors, dermatologists, representatives of industry and public administration participated – positively influenced the situation in the market and contributed to the increase of knowledge about hazards related to sunbeds both among operators and their customers.