A faulty sunbed

Trading Standards warn of dangers

Consumer experts have warned of the serious dangers of hiring equipment after a Staffordshire woman suffered 65% burns through a faulty sunbed.

Melanie Wraith was given an electric shock when the canopy of the machine collapsed, causing her to lose consciousness for over two-and-a-half hours.

She only awoke after starting to vomit and she stopped breathing for a time in the ambulance which rushed her to hospital. Melanie was then transferred to the Birmingham Burns Unit where she was treated for two days.

Melanie, 35, who lives at Leek, hired the sunbed after seeing a newspaper advert for Supertan, a company run by Terrence Howells from his home at Rose Street, Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent.

Magistrates at Newcastle-under-Lyme today (Tuesday 2nd May) warned Howells he could face a prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges relating to Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 and section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987. He had pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing.

Brian Mycock, Staffordshire County Council's area manager for Trading Standards in North Staffordshire, said this was a very serious case

He added: "If Melanie had not awoken at the time the consequences could have been horrendous.

"What this demonstrates is that hiring sunbeds or other equipment should not be a lottery. Members of the public should be able to hire with confidence that it would be safe. People who are starting up in business like Mr Howells did should get advice and get such devices checked over by someone who is qualified.

"Regular maintenance and keeping abreast of what is going on in the industry is also vital. I have seen this machine and it is clearly quite an old one."

Melanie hired the sunbed in February last year and Nicolas Cole, prosecuting for Staffordshire County Council, told the court Howells, 51, delivered it himself.

Mr Cole said: "Ms Wraith set the timer for 12 minutes but had noticed the bottom part of the bed came on as soon as she turned on the power, which should not have happened.

"The top canopy fell on to her arm and caused her to suffer an electric shock. She woke up vomiting two hours 40 minutes later and began to panic.

"The top part of the sunbed had turned off but the bottom part was still on and she was badly burned. he attracted the attention of neighbours who raised the alarm. She actually stopped breathing for a short time in the ambulance, but was thankfully revived.

"Ms Wraith was in shock, she was given morphine for her pain and had to have a catheter inserted in her bladder. Her body was swollen and she had a loss of feeling in her right hand caused by the electric shock. She spent two days in the Burns Unit and described what happened as the worst experience of her life."

Mr Cole said the bed was examined by electrical engineer Paul Harris who saw essential warnings, which by law are supposed to be visible on both parts of the canopy, were either missing or painted over.

Mr Cole added: "The engineer¹s examination also revealed live parts of the machine were not suitably protected. There were live wires, loose bulb holders and the earth wire was loose in the plug.

"The timers on the machine should also have been backed up by a secondary device which acts as a fail safe, but no such device was fitted.

"The defendant had also removed a spring from the machine which prevented the top canopy falling below a safe minimum height. The top canopy actually fell with 30 centimetres of the bottom canopy, which would not have been safe for anyone."

Mr Cole added that Trading Standards were informed and when interviewed Mr Howells said his sunbeds were ex-hire models all bought through newspaper adverts.

He said: "Mr Howells said he switched them on to check they were working, but he did not have any electrical qualifications and he did not have them examined by an electrician."

The case was adjourned for reports, but Chairman of the Magistrates Mrs Cynthia Leech told Howells the offence was so serious he may be sent to prison.

Speaking after the case Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Susan Woodward said: "People who hire equipment of this type do so in the belief it will be safe for purpose. In this instance this was not the case and resulted in the client suffering terrible physical injuries and emotional trauma.

"Businesses cannot and should not shirk responsibility for their client's safety. We now eagerly await the results of the sentencing next month."

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:05:24

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