Is your laser treatment regulated?

Businesses in Mansfield that use lasers for non-surgical treatments need to obtain a licence from Mansfield District Council after the Government changed the law.

The Council has joined forces with other Nottinghamshire councils to regulate light treatments, which include class 3b and class 4 lasers used in cosmetic treatments such as hair removal, thread vein removal and skin resurfacing.

This follows a Government announcement in September 2010 that any laser treatment not classed as a surgical procedure, or used for the treatment of a disease, disorder or injury, and which is not carried out by a healthcare professional, would no longer be regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

However, under the new legislation, the strength of the laser will not be governed; the focus will be on the activity carried out using that laser.

All premises with class 3b or class 4 lasers that do not fall within the scope of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 are required to obtain a licence from the relevant Local Authority in Nottinghamshire.

Councillor Peter Crawford, Chairman of the Licensing Committee at Mansfield District Council, said: "The deregulation of certain activities using lasers under this new legislation is of serious concern. This additional authorisation will give the public confidence and promote public safety for cosmetic treatments using lasers which would otherwise not be regulated.

"Fortunately, in Nottinghamshire there is local legislation in place to regulate premises providing massage, electric, radiant heat, or electric and light vapour treatment."

The use of lasers for surgical treatments and the treatment of a disease, disorder or injury carried out by a healthcare professional (for example a doctor, dentist or nurse) will still be regulated by the CQC.

For information about obtaining a licence contact the Council's Licensing department on 01623 463181.

Customers who have concerns about businesses that use lasers for non-surgical treatments should contact the Council's Environmental Health team on 01623 463492.

Information about the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and associated requirements for registration by healthcare providers to carry out regulated activities, can be found on the CQC website www.cqc.org.uk

Lasers are classified into the following categories:

Class 1 lasers are inherently safe as the maximum permitted exposure level (MEL) cannot be exceeded, either due to the low power/energy of the beam, or because the light is protected an enclosure and cannot be viewed (for example in a CD player)

Class 2 lasers are low power, visible laser beams, usually up to 1 mW power (i.e. laser pointers, supermarket bar-code scanner) which are safe during normal use because the blink reflex of the eye will protect against prolonged exposure.

Class 3A/3R lasers are usually up to 5 mW and can be either visible or invisible. These lasers have a small risk of eye damage which should be controlled through the blink reflex (if visible), provided optically aided viewing is not used (microscope, endoscope etc). Invisible lasers are limited by the amount of power supplied to the laser.

Class 3B lasers can cause immediate severe eye damage if viewed directly. Usually up to 500 mW, this type of laser is used widely in CD players, physiotherapy treatments, research lasers etc

Class 4 lasers present the very greatest hazard potential. Both the eye and the skin may be readily injured by the direct beam, or where the beam is reflected off a polished or shiny surface. Most surgical and cosmetic lasers are class 4.