A sunbed operator has been ordered to pay almost £7,000 by magistrates after failing to give proper advice and supervision to customers at its Blackwood branch.
Cashino Gaming Ltd, based in Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (Wales) Regulations 2011 at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday October 18 and was fined £5,400 for the safety breaches.
The court was told council environmental health officers did a test purchase operation at Cashino Gaming’s Blackwood branch in the town’s High Street, on November 29 last year following a tip-off.
A volunteer wearing a hidden camera purchased a six-minute sunbed session at the premises, but safety checks were not carried out by staff.
The offences included failing to make protective eyewear available or checking to see if the user had protective and secure eye protection with them, failure to assist the person to assess their skin type and failure to provide guidance on the use of sunbeds.
Cashino Gaming also pleaded guilty to failure to advise the user on the safe operation of the sunbed and failure to ensure the provision and use of protective eyewear.
The company said it was the first time it had been in trouble for failing to comply with regulations and that the manager in charge at the time in Blackwood has since been dismissed.
Magistrates ordered that Cashino Gaming pay a total of £6,920 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.
Cllr David Poole, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “It is paramount that the public is protected from traders who breach safety regulations, and our Environmental Health enforcement teams are committed to tackling those who flout the law.
“The seriousness of this offence has been reflected by the fine imposed by the court, and should act as a warning to other traders who put the wellbeing of their customers in jeopardy.”