Once upon a time, and not so very long ago, gyms and spas were all about manicures, pedicures, massages β lots of massages β from Swedish massage, sports massage, therapeutic massage to Eastern-inspired Ayurveda massage, hot stone massage, the list goes on.
Every hotel and sports centre that claimed to offer luxury facilities had a gym and spa attached, offering all of the above, and people flocked to these spas in their droves to be pampered and swathed in fluffy towels.
Then the industry moved on, a pandemic hit and, along with it, the menu of therapies and treatments to support wellness and well-being. And so saunas and steam baths have quickly became a booming business. However, every good thing comes with some challenges. In the recent past, the media has run stories of saunas in and around Kampala catching fire and explosions happening as a result of little to no maintenance done at these facilities.
This has awakened the need for a standard to be developed by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards UNBS which is charged with the mandate of protecting the health and safety of the public. This Draft Uganda Standard provides requirements and guidance for use as well as the development of a safety culture in saunas, steam baths and whirlpool establishments.
It also gives guidance to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing use-related death, injury, and ill health. Proprietors of such a business should make a point to display some common safety rules and guidelines. Here are some typical points you should consider including β they will cover all the basics. While infrared saunas can go on almost any surface, make sure your sauna is plugged into the appropriate outlet. Do not use extension cords, as these can surge, fray, or spark.
