5th June 2009
Memo
From: Councillor SJ Williams, Cabinet member for the environment.
To: The environmental health manager
You may be aware that at the next meeting of the cabinet a proposal to close the sunbed salons at our leisure centres will be discussed with a view to making a recommendation at the next full meeting of the council.
Currently these salons provide a service for the public and generate much needed and significant income for the council.
The information I have read so far is not conclusive, indeed, contradictory. Dr Michael Holick of Boston University says the use of sunbeds is good for health as it helps to generate essential vitamins and gives people the psychological feeling of well-being, yet the Health and Safety Executive seems to be set to recommend that sunbed salons should be closed on health grounds.
I anticipate this issue will generate a lot of debate at the council meeting and there is likely to be a considerable amount of opposition to any suggestion that our salons
should be closed. In the current economic climate we must maximise our income from all sources, and we do not want to be seen to be laying off leisure centre staff at this difficult time for families in the district. Please provide a concise briefing on the issue from an environmental health viewpoint.
The task
Draft a response to Councillor S J Williams.
Indicative reference sources
[All available online and accessed 13/05/09]
- CIEH (2007) Artificial ultraviolet tanning facilities: briefing note for the Department of Health. Available online at: www.cieh.org
- Dreifus, C (2003) A conversation with Michael Holick; Shining a light on the health benefits of vitamin D. New York Times, Tuesday, January 28, 2003. Available online at: www.nytimes.com/2003/01/28/health/conversation-with-michael-holickshining-light-health-benefitsvitamin-d.html
- European Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) (2006) Opinion on biological effects of ultraviolet radiation relevant to health with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes. Available online at http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions2/en/sunbeds/index.htm#1
- HSE (2009) Revised guidance for tanning salons and their customers. Press release 1 May 2009. Available online at: www.hse.gov.uk/PRESS/2009/e09038.htm
- Murray, CD and Turner, E (2004) Health, risk and sunbed use: A qualitative study. Health Risk & Society, Volume 6, Issue 1 March 2004, pp 67-80. Abstract available online at www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~a713661636~db=all
- Sinclair, S (2003) Artificial tanning sunbeds: risk and guidance. Geneva, WHO. Available online at: www.who.int/uv/publications/sunbedpubl/en/
- Sunbed Association (2009) Can I use a sunbed? Available online at: www.sunbedassociation.org.uk/caniuseasunbed.php
Assessment
The content of your submission 90 per cent
Clarity of presentation 10 per cent
Your submission
Should be in the region of 1,000 words, text processed and include a front cover with your name, CIEH membership number, address, telephone number, email address, date and title of assignment and a statement to confirm that “the work to complete this assignment is my individual effort and any included work by others is referenced or otherwise acknowledged”.
Fee
A fee of £20.00 made payable to “The University of Ulster” should be sent to: Maxine Pickering, UUTech, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, BT37 OQB with a note giving your name, assignment(s) to which it relates and the date of submission.
Return your assignment
Dr H Harvey at haroldharvey@yahoo.com and haroldharvey@gmx.com by 31 July (or one month later for those who receive the magazine overseas).