MSPs hear of salon dangers

MANY staff in sunbed salons lack the knowledge to give proper advice to users, MSPs are expected to hear today.

But environmental health chiefs also say that many of the users with the highest exposure are the staff themselves.

Labour MSPs have lodged a series of amendments to the Public Health Bill, which would see a ban on unstaffed premises and under-18s using sunbeds, as well as a national licensing scheme.

The issue will come before Holyrood's health and sport committee today.

Alastair Shaw, of the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland, will outline concerns to MSPs today, but claims in a written submission that the use of ultra-violet tanning salons has been an ongoing concern.

He said: "Many staff in premises do not have sufficient knowledge to offer authoritative advice. Many operators fail to carry out any form of assessment of the suitability of the user for exposure."