Our mystery-shopper surveys have found many sunbed operators aren’t following health and safety guidelines. So we decided to find out how well-informed they were, and whether they received enough help and advice.

We sent a questionnaire to 302 businesses advertising tanning services in the Yellow Pages and online. They included hairdressers, beauty therapists, fitness centres and members of the Indoor Tanning Association of New Zealand. Eighty-six businesses responded – we thank them for their co-operation. Another 40 told us they no longer offered sunbeds, or provided only spray tanning.

The best sources of information on the safe operation of sunbeds are the sunbed standard (Australia/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 2635:2008) and the Guidelines for Operators of Ultraviolet (UV) Tanning Lamps published on the National Radiation Laboratory (NRL) website. We were disappointed that only three-quarters of the respondents had heard of the standard and less than half owned a copy. As well, 45 percent hadn’t heard of the NRL guidelines.

Most (93 percent) had received advice on the safe operation of sunbeds – most often from their professional organisations. But, judging from the copies of consent forms we received, some of the information was out of date. Operators were confused about the minimum age for sunbed use – the standard’s guidelines on this changed in 2008.

On a positive note, 59 operators said they’d like us to send them information on the standard or the NRL guidelines.

For the results of our mystery shop see our Sunbeds report.

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