IS YOUR SPA COMPLIANT?IT SHOULD BE.

As the spa industry diversifies its activities and service offering, they are now often considered medical facilities under the law. Laser hair removal, one of the most popular methods of getting rid of unwanted hair, is actually considered a medical procedure when it is performed in a spa setting.

Laser Hair Removal Process
Many states now classify laser hair removal as a medical procedure, and this means it falls under a set of laws and guidelines. The process entails focusing a concentrated beam of light at hair, which damages the follicle, removing it, but also slows the future growth of the removed hair.

Laser Hair Removal Device Requirement
Requirements for procedures like laser hair removal vary from state to state, but the guidelines are similar. Many states, for example, require the devices to be registered with a regulating authority, especially if that machine has other uses apart from hair removal. In most locations, these machines can only be purchased by a licensed health professional on behalf of the spa or medical facility.

Some states will also require that facilities keep a number of documents and logs for safety and inspection purposes. These are a few examples:

Prescription order for the purchase of lasers
Manufacturer User’s Manual
Consulting physician’s contract with the facility
Inventory of laser devices
Yearly inventory audit
Training logs for all staff operating the machine
Staff Regulations for Medical Spas
Laws vary wildly from state to state on this subject. Many states require a certificate be acquired from a local agency in order to be able to perform laser hair removal on the public. A few states go even further, requiring that either a nurse or physician’s assistant only may perform laser hair removal. These states also often require that the procedure be performed only in a medical facility, or under a medical license. And while some regions are more lax, allowing salons and spas to perform laser hair removal, they still hold these facilities to strict medical waste disposal laws.

Legitimizing the Industry
While laser hair removal is a benign and often perfectly safe procedure, it’s also important that licensed laser technicians take a client’s medical history. While this brings a ton of concerns and HIPAA regulations, it’s a necessary step in making the industry safer and more legitimate.

Facilities like spas are often not prepared to face such regulations, this might be the first time they have a medical waste plan, and this may be the only procedure for which they have one. It can seem like a daunting endeavor for salon and spa owners, but the consequences are far too great to ignore.

Learn more about OSHA Compliance and more, by getting in touch with Enviromerica today. We can ensure that you receive the best advice for optimizing your healthcare practice.