[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Town of Blackstone 6-17-1998. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 123.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MASSAGE OR MASSAGE THERAPY
The act or technique of treating the body by rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to aid in circulation, or relax the muscles, for the purposed health or medical treatment or for the purpose of reducing tension and generally providing for an increase in a person's health and well-being.
MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENTS
Any office, place of business or premise permitted by the Blackstone Board of Health for the practice of massage therapy.
A. 
Individuals. No person shall be permitted to practice massage therapy in the Town of Blackstone unless they meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Proof of graduation from a school of massage or muscular therapy approved by the American Massage Therapy Association and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education and which requires at least 500 hours or six months of instruction or training.
(2) 
Proof of membership in the American Massage Therapy Association.
(3) 
Proof that the applicant has had a satisfactory skin test for tuberculosis within the last year. A skin test for tuberculosis shall be required every three years thereafter.
(4) 
A permit fee of $50 shall be paid annually. It is the responsibility of the permittee to obtain renewal prior to the expiration date of the existing permit.
(5) 
All persons in each establishment shall be required to obtain a permit to practice massage therapy. A fee of $10 will be charged for each additional therapist.
(6) 
Proof of insurance.
B. 
Establishments. Every establishment permitted for the giving of massage therapy shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Massage therapy establishments shall at all times be equipped with an adequate supply of clean sanitary towels, coverings and linens which shall be stored so as to protect them from contamination.
(2) 
Towels and linens shall not be used on more then one patron unless they have first been laundered and sanitized.
(3) 
Disposable linens and disposable coverings shall not be reused.
(4) 
Each establishment shall be inspected two times per year.
A. 
Individuals. The regulations shall not apply to following individuals while engaged in the regular performance of the duties of their respective professions:
(1) 
Physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths or physical therapists who are licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(2) 
School athletic trainers and coaches acting within the scope of their employment at accredited schools or educational institutions.
(3) 
Personnel in hospitals, nursing homes, or other health-care facilities licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B. 
Establishments. These regulations hold the following facilities exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit to individuals practicing massage therapy:
(1) 
Physicians, offices, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and other similar-licensed institutes where massage therapy may be given.
C. 
Effective date. These regulations shall be effective as of June 17, 1998.