Dubai: Beauty parlours and other health-related facilities must meet strict health and safety requirements or face punishment and even closure, said a senior Dubai Municipality official.
Regular inspections are carried out on parlours for both men and women to ensure they abide by health, hygiene and safety rules, Reda Salman, Director of the Public Health and Safety Department, said.
"The inspections cover all aspects related to public health, such as sterilisation of all equipment used in beauty procedures, including manicure and pedicure equipment," Salman said.
Other conditions covered include keeping separate areas for men and women, workers' uniforms, general and bathroom cleanliness and enforcing the smoking ban in all health-related establishments, he said.
The inspectors also check out how products are preserved and whether home-made products are licensed and made according to set conditions.
"For example, some beauty salons mix natural henna with chemicals or artificial colourants, which is against the law," Salman said.
He said all beauty and personal care products must be registered, whether by the salon if it was the agent of a particular product, or by the official agent of the product.
The municipality also looks out for licences of workers, if their profession requires a licence, such as beauticians and laser operators for hair removal, and while licensing workers is the responsibility of the Dubai Health Authority, licensing establishments are under the municipality's jurisdiction.
Exemption
"Some professionals, such as hairdressers, do not need a licence and it's up to the establishment owners to employ qualified and experienced staff — which they must prove if any complaint is made against these workers. If clients face problems with any facility or professional, they should contact the municipality's hotline or file a complaint on our website," Salman said.
"Clients have the right to ask employees of beauty parlours to show them sterilisation equipment and open sterilised packages in front of them to ensure their safety," he said. "These establishments have varying levels of commitment, and this is why we seek the public's co-operation in this matter and encourage their feedback on issues related to their health," he added.
Local Order 11 for 2003 defines a health-related establishment as any facility that practices activities directly related to human health and natural needs.
It includes beauty parlours, fitness and body building centres, massage parlours, weight reduction centres, as well as public and private schools, nurseries, kindergartens, cinemas, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and other establishments.
Chapter 4 of this order stipulates that no health-related establishment may practice its activities in Dubai without a licence. The activities of such establishments are governed by the regulatory conditions and rules in line with valid laws in the emirate and rules and regulations stipulated by the departments concerned.
Vocational certificates
It further states that all workers in health-related establishments should undergo health control procedures in line with the conditions and requirements of the specialised department, including acquiring vocational health certificates that prove they are healthy and free from infectious diseases.
Helpline
If clients face a problem with any facility or professional, they should contact Dubai Municipality's hotline 800900 or file a complaint on its website www.dm.gov.ae
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