Reminder: N. D. Salons Must Ensure Compliance With New Legislation

Legislation passed by North Dakota regarding indoor tanning now is in effect. As of Jan. 1, all tanning facilities in North Dakota are required to be licensed and inspected.

In addition, the new law requires any customer under the age of 18 to provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian to the salon before they are allowed to tan—and that consent form must be presented and signed by the parent or legal guardian at the tanning facility after reading the warnings required by law. Customers younger than 14 must provide written consent from a physician and also must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Legislation also requires facilities to prominently post a warning sign in each area where a tanning device is used regarding the risks of failure to use eye protection, the dangers related to overexposure, and abnormal skin sensitivity to tanning devices caused by certain foods, cosmetics and medications.

Other key provisions of the law include:

• Customers must agree to use approved protective eyewear.
• Customers may not tan more than once every 24 hours.
• Each tanning bed must be properly sanitized after each use.
• A trained operator must be present during all operating hours of the tanning facility.

Originally introduced in January 2007 as HB 1154, the bill sought to institute several statewide tanning salon restrictions and prohibit minors under age 16 from tanning indoors. The bill was amended to its current version in February 2007.

Note: Many salons have said that anti-tanning legislation (just like that in North Dakota) was a big factor that affected their 2007 season. Having knowledgeable and professional employees that can explain the benefits of tanning is paramount to your success in the face of such legislation, so be proactive and get your staff certified today through the National Tanning Training Insititute. Simply log on to www.tanningtraining.com or calling (800) 529-1101.