Indoor Tanning Fees
You Must Pay Yearly Tanning Equipment Fees, In addition to the registration fee, you must also pay a yearly tanning equipment fee of $50 per bed. Tanning bed fees are due every year on July 15*. We will send you a bill (invoice) by mail., *If your salon first opens for business during the middle of a fiscal year, that first year you will receive a prorated bill based on the amount of time your salon has been in operation., Late Payment Penalties, If you do not pay the bill for your yearly tanning equipment fees within 60 days of receiving an invoice from DHEC, you will be charged a late penalty of $50 dollars. If the fees are not paid within 90 days your registration number will be revoked and any activities permitted under the authority of the registration must cease immediately. If applicable, a reinstatement fee of $100 will be…, potential fines for violating the state's tanning regulations, . Also learn more about the, federal excise tax on indoor tanning, .Indoor Tanning Fines
If your salon violates the state's indoor tanning regulation, you could face monetary fines and/ or civil penalties based upon the severity of the public health risk created by the violation., Monetary and Civil Penalties, Violation 1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense Failure to register and/or pay any fee $500.00 $1,000.00 $5,000.00 Ultraviolet radiation burn requiring medical attention and/or equipment-related injuries $1,000.00 $2,000.00 $4,000.00 Unsanitary conditions of tanning or tanning-related equipment that could result in the transmission of communicable disease $1,000.00 $2,000.00 $4,000.00 Failure to…, Indoor Tanning Investigation/Inspection Checklist, to help ensure your tanning facility and equipment meet state requirements.Indoor Tanning Investigations, Inspections
If DHEC receives a complaint from one of your customers, our investigation may include a visit to your facility. The easiest way to prepare for an inspection of your tanning facility is to ensure that the practices of your salon are in accordance with, Regulation 61-106 -, "Tanning Facilities, .", A DHEC inspector will look in depth at your facility's practices, equipment, and documentation. We look at things like the registration status of each tanning unit in your facility, the maintenance of the tanning equipment, the policy for the use of protective eyewear, the sanitation of the protective eyewear and tanning units, the mixture of the sanitizing agent, the lamp equivalency of the…, (803) 545-4400, ., You will be required to have the following available for review during an onsite visit:, Copy of your application and approval memo. Copy of, R.61-106, Tanning Facilities Regulations, ., All eyewear, used (including disposable brands and brands for sale) and associated paperwork (instructions and 21 CFR 1040.20 certification). Information on protective eyewear sanitizer, to include mixing instruction (unless only disposable eyewear is used). Information on tanning equipment sanitizer, to include mixing instruction. Documentation of operator training requirements as indicated in Section 4.2 of, R.61-106 Tanning Facilities Regulations, ., Lamp equivalency documentation, if lamps other than the manufacturer's recommended lamps are in use. A list of potential photosensitizing substances., In addition to administrative review, we will do the following during a visit to your facility:, Check the adequacy of tanning equipment labels (presence of "Danger" statement, exposure schedule, etc). Check for cleanliness of tanning equipment and protective eyewear and that sanitation is done by an employee of the facility. Check to ensure the shocks are functioning properly (the canopy will stay up). Check for, adequacy of the acrylic, or wire mesh (no holes, large split cracks, gaps, etc.). Check to ensure that there are no cracks or tears in the vinyl pillows that would prohibit them from being sanitized properly. Ensure there is a functional emergency off switch (it may be the dial timer on the bed). Ensure the timer indications are legible and agree with those on the exposure schedule as well as ensuring the maximum timer…Indoor Tanning Regulations Overview
Before you open a tanning facility or allow customers to use tanning equipment, you must register with the Tanning Program., Why SCDES Regulates Tanning Facilities, There are more than 400 tanning facilities registered in South Carolina. DHEC regulates tanning facilities to protect customers from poor sanitation and dangerous overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Overexposure can harm a person's health, causing everything from painful sunburn to a deadly form of skin cancer (malignant melanoma). Although SCDES staff are no longer able to inspect tanning…, complaint, or a report of an injury. As part of an inspection, we may review equipment performance, operator training, overall facility operation, sanitation, and exposure control., Are you looking to open a tanning facility?, See our easy-to-follow instructions, .Register with SCDES - Indoor Tanning
If you are planning to open a new indoor tanning salon in South Carolina, you must first register your equipment with SCDES's Bureau of Radiological Health. You must be granted a facility registration number before you begin operating your tanning equipment. Your facility must: Fill out, SCDES's Tanning Equipment Registration Form (SCDES Form #0826) (pdf), Mail the completed form to us along with a one-time $50 registration application fee (make checks payable to S.C. DHEC). Send the completed registration form and application fee to: S.C. DHEC Bureau of Radiological Health Att: Tanning Regulation 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 When we receive your application and $50 registration fee, we will: Stamp it as 'received' Assign your facility a…, S.C. Indoor Tanning Equipment Registration Form (SCDES 0826) (pdf)Report These Changes
Tanning Report of Change Form, You are required to report these changes to SCDES:, Change of Address, Phone Number, Contact Information, S.C. regulations state that you should notify SCDES in writing within 30 days of a change in address, phone number or other contact information. Please indicate the name of the salon and both the old and new contact information in your request. See, Contact Us, ., Change of Ownership, If you recently sold your salon, please notify SCDES in writing within 30 days of the sale. Please include the new owners name and contact information., Transfer of Registration Not Allowed, S.C. regulations do not allow you to transfer your SCDES registration number and approval to a new owner or from one tanning facility to another tanning facility. See, Contact Us, ., Addition or Removal of Tanning Beds, S.C. regulations state that you must notify DHEC in writing within 30 days of adding or removing a tanning bed from your salon. If you are adding or removing a bed, please provide DHEC with the: Manufacturer's name Model Serial number Manufacture date. In addition, if you are removing a bed from your facility, please: Provide the name of the recipient of the tanning equipment. This may be an…, Contact Us by Mail, Indoor Tanning Section Radiation Protection Program SCDES 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201, Phone, Fax, Radiation Protection Program Phone:, (803) 545-4400, Fax: (803) 545-4412Skin Types
Determining a client's skin type helps you and your tanning salon operators decide how an individual client's skin will react to UV light. It helps you determine safe exposure times so you can help protect the client from overexposure and other potentially harmful reactions. Skin type depends on several factors including a person's heritage, natural hair color, eye color, un-tanned skin…, Skin Type Determination Based on Hereditary Characteristics, 0 1 2 3 4 Points Eye Color Light blue, gray or green Blue, gray or green Blue Dark Brown Brownish black Hair Color Sandy Red Blond Blond chestnut or dark blond Dark brown Black Color of Skin Reddish Very pale Pale with beige tint Light brown Dark brown Freckles Many Several Few Incidental None , Skin Type Determination Based on Tanning History, 0 1 2 3 4 Points What happens when you stay in the sun too long? Painful redness, peeling, blistering Burns regularly with peeling Burns sometime with peeling Burns rarely Never burns To what degree do you turn brown? Hardly or not at all brown Tans a little with light color Tans moderately Tans very easily Quickly turns brown Do you turn brown immediately after tanning? Never Hardly…, Score from Two Charts Above Indicates Skin Type, Total Points Skin Type Skin Reactions to the Sun 0-7 1 Burns easily and severely; peels and does not tan 8-16 2 Burns easily and severely; tans minimally or lightly 17-25 3 Burns moderately; tans about average 25 or more 4 Burns minimally; tans above averageUnder 18 - Permission Required
Any indoor tanning customers under the age of 18 must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian before they can use your tanning services. Parents must accompany their child on the child's first visit to your facility and sign the permission statement in the presence of one of your tanning salon operators. The witness shall provide his/her name, signature, title and date on the…Health Risks of Mercury
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that has several forms. Mercury is toxic. Exposure to mercury, even small amounts, may cause serious health problems. People can be exposed to mercury through skin contact, by eating contaminated fish or by breathing mercury vapors that are invisible and odorless. Mercury is released into the environment from many sources. Mercury is found in air, water…, All Mercury is Toxic, Although some forms of mercury are more dangerous than others, all are toxic. Depending on the type and amount, exposures to mercury can damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Breathing mercury vapors can harm the nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Mercury vapors can pass easily from the lungs to the bloodstream. Elemental (also known as metallic) mercury, the shiny silver-…, Mercury Is Especially Dangerous To Pregnant Women, Children of women who consumed large amounts of contaminated fish during pregnancy are at highest risk of mercury-related developmental problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 6% of child-bearing aged women in the United States have a blood mercury level that is unsafe for a developing fetus. Mercury exposure in the womb - which can result from a mother's…, Children Under 14 Are Most Sensitive To Mercury, The developing brains and nervous systems of children are very sensitive to mercury and may be irreversibly damaged by it. Children can be exposed to methylmercury by eating certain types of fish or if their mothers ate mercury-contaminated fish before their birth. Breaking mercury-containing products such as thermometers used in homes and schools can also result in exposure to mercury., Families Can Reduce Their Risk, Look for and follow state and national fish consumption advisories. Consider not buying products that contain mercury such as thermometers - buy a digital thermometer instead. Carefully handle, properly dispose of or recycle products that contain mercury. Do not use a vacuum to clean up a mercury spill (see the "Cleaning up mercury spills" fact sheet in this series). Properly dispose of older…, Consult A Doctor, Anyone who has concerns about mercury exposure should consult a doctor. Doctors may be able to identify exposure and health risks. A doctor may help decide if mercury testing is appropriate given the physical condition and symptoms. DHEC offers analytical services through a doctor's office for mercury blood levels. DHEC charges a nominal fee for this service. For more information on the health…, Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning, Vision, speech, hearing and walking impairment Numbness in hands, feet and sometimes around the mouth Uncoordinated movement Muscle weakness Skin rashes Mood swings, memory loss and mental disturbancesMercury in the Environment
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water, and soil. Mercury exists in several forms: elemental (metallic); inorganic; and organic. Mercury cannot be created or destroyed. Some forms of mercury are more dangerous than others, but all are toxic. Exposure to mercury – even in small amounts – may cause serious health problems. Mercury is released into the environment from…