The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is in advanced stages of finalizing the Standards that shall be followed by all operators of saunas, steam baths and whirlpools.
Dr. Safina Namugga Ngolya, the Principal Standards Officer at UNBS, told stakeholders that the Standards body will regulate the industry to avoid the dangers that come with its free operation.
“The regulations will range from; sanitation, etiquette, fire prevention, personal safety and risk assessment,” she said.
Namugga made these remarks today Tuesday August 24 while presenting the Draft Standards to different stakeholders for review on health, safety and new requirements, via zoom.
“At this stage, the draft standard will be getting minimum standards. From here, our technical team will incorporate all the feedback from the public and later make the final draft which will be forwarded to the Ministry for approval before implementations kick off,” she noted.
According to the Draft seen by ChimpReports, operators of saunas, steam baths and whirlpools will have to abide by the said standards or bear the consequences.
“The walls, floors and ceilings of the places shall be smooth and impervious for easy disinfection. Sharp objects like nails and broken glasses will not be accepted,” Namugga said.
The same, she noted, will apply to seats which will be made of smooth impervious materials and cushions will not be allowed.
The doors are required to have two handles; one inside and the other outside to enable customers easily evacuate in case there is danger.
“Observe electrical safety, repair and maintenance which should be done by registered electricians,” she said.
The new regulations require operators to provide toilets, bathrooms and lockable locks for routine use by the customers.
“These shall be maintained in good state of hygiene and control. There shall be signages that will help warn and alert customers for example those with health complications among others,” she said.
Owners will also be required to make monthly or bi-monthly reports on; risk assessment, general situation, fire safety plan, inspection records for hygiene and clients’ consultation records.
“There shall also be calibration records for all the thermometers, temperature and pressure gauge,” the draft adds.
Speaking at the engagement meeting, Andre Othieno, the Standards Manager at UNBS explained why they have come out to regulate the sector now and not before.
“It was public outcry, UNBS does not just come out and make Standards. The public cried out to us following the exploitation and poor services they get from these places, which prompted the drafting of these regulations,” he said.
Othieno said that drafting standards follows different procedures.
“We follow a national standardization strategy which guides how standards should be developed based on majority stakeholders demand. The same strategy is also guided by other strategies like; NDP III, and Vision 2040,” he said.
Patricia Ejaru, the Deputy ED of UNBS said that they will review what the public has given and come up with the final copy that will be approved and implemented.
UNBS will now embark on the awareness campaign with stakeholders to ensure that the public comply.
“Enforcement is the last thing we are thinking about because right now we are not here to chase people from business but rather to help them do it well, as well as save lives,” Ejaru said.
