The purpose of this chapter is to regulate sanitary conditions at massage
therapy establishments in a way that will:
A. Protect and promote public health, safety and sanitation.
B. Prevent the spread of disease.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
APPLICANT
Any person under whose name the massage therapy establishment shall
be permitted and who has the authority to make decisions regarding the establishment.
The applicant is not required to be a massage therapist or the owner of the
massage therapy establishment.
CLIENT
Any person who provides compensation for massage therapy.
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
The legally designated health authority of the Town of West Hartford
or an authorized representative of the Director.
MASSAGE
Shall mean "massage therapy."
MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment having a fixed business where any person engages
in or carries on or permits to be engaged in or carried on massage therapy,
as herein defined.
MASSAGE THERAPIST
Any person who has been licensed by the State of Connecticut Department
of Public Health to practice massage therapy.
MASSAGE THERAPY
The systematic and scientific manipulation and treatment of the soft
tissues of the body, by use of pressure, friction, stoking, percussion, kneading,
vibration by manual or mechanical means, range of motion and nonspecific stretching.
Massage therapy may include the use of oil, ice, hot and cold packs, tub,
shower, steam, dry heat or cabinet baths, for the purpose of, but not limited
to, maintaining good health and establishing and maintaining good physical
and mental condition. Massage therapy does not encompass diagnosis, the prescribing
of drugs or medicines, spinal or other joint manipulations, or any service
or procedure for which a license to practice medicine, chiropractic, natureopathy,
physical therapy or podiatry is required by law.
PERSON
Any individual and, unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
any corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company or combination
of individuals of whatever form or character.
This chapter shall not apply to any school, hospital, nursing home or mental
health facility operating in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut.
No person shall engage in the practice of massage therapy without first
having obtained a massage therapy license from the State of Connecticut Department
of Public Health.
No permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be transferable.
No permit to operate a massage therapy establishment shall be granted
until the Director of Health has established that the establishment complies
with each of the following minimum requirements:
A. All massage therapy must be carried out in clearly designated
rooms within the massage therapy establishment. Such rooms shall provide privacy
to the client.
B. Adequate toilet and handwashing facilities for clients and employees
shall be provided. Toilet and handwashing facilities shall be in working condition
at all times and shall be kept clean and sanitary.
C. If used, tubs, steam baths and showers shall be in working
condition at all times and shall be kept clean and sanitary.
D. A sink with hot and cold running water and a bacteriostatic
solution, or an approved hand sanitizer, shall be provided in each designated
massage therapy room.
If any terms, phrases, sentence, paragraph, section or article of this
code shall be declared invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect
the remaining parts of this code, and such parts shall continue in full force
and effect and are herby declared to be severable.