Tanning Equipment (Part 1)

Georgia law prohibits a tanning facility from advertising or distributing promotional materials which claim that using a tanning device is safe, free from risk and will result in medical or health benefits.

Within three feet of each tanning booth, a clearly visible sign must advise consumers of the implications of tanning. The sign should include the following warnings and instructions:

• Danger - Ultraviolet Radiation (UV)
• Follow instructions
• Avoid overexposure
• Wear protective eyewear
• Medications or cosmetics may increase your sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation
• If you do not tan in the sun, you are unlikely to tan from use of this product
• Maximum exposure at any one session should never exceed 15 minutes

Tanning facilities must comply with a number of other guidelines to ensure consumer safety:

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires tanning providers to direct all customers to wear protective eye goggles. Closing one’s eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses or using cotton wads do not protect the cornea of the eye from the intensity of UV radiation from tanning devices. UV rays do not kill bacteria and germs, so the protective goggles must be sanitized before use.  
• Tanning equipment must include physical barriers to prevent injury from touching or breaking the lamps. Stand-up tanning booths must have different barriers for consumer protection.
• Tanning equipment must have ground fault protection on the electrical circuit to prevent a fire from starting.
• Tanning facility owners must keep records of any alleged injuries that occurred from use of the tanning beds within the past three years. A copy of any report must be supplied to consumers upon request.
• If a consumer is under age 18, tanning equipment may not be used unless a parent or legal guardian signs a consent form.

All indoor tanning services are  subject to a 10 percent excise tax under the Affordable Care Act. For more information on this tax, please visit www.irs.gov.