According to most salon operators who have been through inspection, you can run a very tight ship and still be flagged for violations. I talked about this subject with Mike DePuew, owner of Beach ‘N Tans in Mocksville, NC, a 21-year industry veteran who has taught salon certification classes to other operators in North Carolina.
“I spend a lot of time helping salons prepare for inspection,” Mike says. “They are always surprised by what inspectors find important.” What’s the No. 1 “hot button” issue? Sunlamp compatibility – the salon must show that the lamp output is within 10% (+ or -)of the product recommended for each bed. “You need to keep this info with your equipment manuals,” Mike adds. “It is Federal law, and you can’t mess around with this. Make sure your staff knows where the manuals are.”
Want to see an inspector’s checklist & what they use to grade your salon? Email Brenda@WinkEase.com and I’ll send it to you.
Item No. 2 is eye protection. If you provide shared goggles, you must have written instructions on hand for how to clean them, which includes the use of quat strips to test the cleaning solution. “Your staff MUST ask every salon guest for eyewear every time they come in,” Mike says. “We ask, ‘May I see your eye protection, please?’ If they don’t have them, we give them disposables and say, ‘Eye protection is your sunglasses for inside. You must wear it.’” Mike explained that the No. 3 critical item is a certified and trained staff. “If you don’t have a certificate for each person working in your salon, the inspector can close you down on the spot!” he exclaims. “Why would you not have several certifications in different fields for each staff member? The more they know, the better job they will do for you.”
I was surprised to learn that the fourth critical item is Client History. Inspectors check your system to make sure no one has tanned more than once in 24 hours, that your tanners start with short exposures, and you have signed release forms on file.
Item five: In-store Signage. You must post the Federal “Black Box” warning in each tanning room and your equipment must be labeled appropriately. You also need to display eyewear information.
Here’s another surprise – inspectors often look for false claims. Mike explains, “If you display signs or posters claiming that tanning gives you a base tan or prevents cancer or improves mood, you may be asked to remove them.”
So, if your salon was inspected today, would it pass?
