[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:
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.
Any office, place of business or premise permitted by the Blackstone
Board of Health for the practice of massage therapy.
A.Â
Individuals. No person shall be permitted to practice
massage therapy in the Town of Blackstone unless they meet the following requirements:
(1)Â
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)Â
Proof of membership in the American Massage Therapy Association.
(3)Â
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)Â
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)Â
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)Â
Proof of insurance.
B.Â
Establishments. Every establishment permitted for the
giving of massage therapy shall meet the following requirements:
(1)Â
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)Â
Towels and linens shall not be used on more then one
patron unless they have first been laundered and sanitized.
(3)Â
Disposable linens and disposable coverings shall not
be reused.
(4)Â
Each establishment shall be inspected two times per year.
A.Â
Individuals. The regulations shall not apply to following
individuals while engaged in the regular performance of the duties of their
respective professions:
(1)Â
Physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths or physical therapists
who are licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(2)Â
School athletic trainers and coaches acting within the
scope of their employment at accredited schools or educational institutions.
(3)Â
Personnel in hospitals, nursing homes, or other health-care
facilities licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B.Â
Establishments. These regulations hold the following
facilities exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit to individuals practicing
massage therapy:
(1)Â
Physicians, offices, hospitals, nursing homes, home health
agencies and other similar-licensed institutes where massage therapy may be
given.
C.Â
Effective date. These regulations shall be effective
as of June 17, 1998.