London, ON – Starting today, the Middlesex-London Health Unit is making inspection reports for public pools and spas, as well as tattoo and piercing premises available online. The new inspection reports, as well as those for food premises, will be accessible through the Health Unit’s website at www.healthunit.com/inspections. The format of the online inspection reports is based on the Health Unit’s revamped DineSafe food premises inspection disclosure website. Users will be able to choose whether they want to review inspections for food premises, pools and spas, or tattoo and body piercing facilities.

“With this new web resource the Health Unit is able to share the results of inspections with the public in a quick, easy and convenient way. The website allows anyone to search for inspection reports by picking a location from a map, or searching by community, first letter or facility type,” says Tristan Squire-Smith, Manager of the Health Unit’s Infectious Disease Control Team, whose staff conducts inspections at tattoo and piercing facilities.

“We’ve had a lot of success sharing inspection results through the DineSafe website, which showed there was potential to expand our efforts to include reports for the other types of facilities we inspect. The data provides transparency and information the public needs to make informed choices about these services,” says Fatih Sekercioglu, Manager of the Health Unit’s Safe Water and Rabies Prevention and Control Team.

Public disclosure is a powerful tool for both consumers and operators alike. While providing information to consumers, the online disclosure of inspections gives operators an added incentive to work with the Health Unit to implement and maintain practices that ensure safety and compliance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Through the Health Unit’s website, consumers considering body art or modification services can find out if a business has been inspected by Public Health Inspectors and what they may have found during those visits. Only properly licensed body art facilities are inspected and listed on the website.

Summaries of inspection findings, including infractions, for public pools, spas, and piercing and tattoo facilities are currently available on the website.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-663-5317 extension 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokespeople:
Fatih Sekercioglu, Manager, Safe Water and Rabies Prevention and Control Team
Tristan Squire-Smith, Manager, Infectious Disease Control Team