Sunbeds: Cancer Research UK outline the dangers of tanning

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Sofi Lorimer, 36, used tanning beds twice a week before she was diagnosed with skin cancer – and quit the bulbs when she overcame the condition. She became an assistant manager at a salon but, when she told boss Aslam Mohammed she previously had malignant melanoma and she “hoped” she didn’t need to get inside a machine, Mr Mohammed said he didn’t think she should work there.

Employment tribunal documents stated he phoned Ms Lorimer to say “I don’t feel you should work here anymore as you had cancer and I don’t feel it is appropriate”.

He later said it was for “health and safety reasons”, and terminated her employment, the documents said.

Judges ruled Mr Mohammed’s company Smart Tan UK Limited discriminated against Sofi due to her disability, and should pay her £9,300 in compensation, Hull Live reports.

The mum said: “Who would sack someone for that reason. It was such a shock. I was devastated. It was such a relief when it was over and done with and I didn’t have to think about him anymore.

“The anxiety he caused me was horrible. I want others to know they can seek legal action for situations like mine.”

Who would sack someone for that reason? It was such a shock. I was devastated.

Sofi Lorimer

Ms Lorimer, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, used tanning beds twice a week for around seven years, before she stopped following 15 operations to remove cancer from her skin, between September 2015 and March 2017.

Tanning beds use fluorescent bulbs that emit mostly UVA light which is up to three times more intense than the rays in natural sunlight.

She overcame the cancer but became “anxious” when she had to get inside one of the beds, while it was on, to fix a fault during her time working at Smart Tan UK in 2020.

Prior to this role, she had gained experience in the industry working at a different sunbed shop.

According to the tribunal documents, a text she sent Mr Mohammed told him about her cancer fight.

It read: “Some people think I’m mental for working in a sunbed shop but I really enjoy it and that’s why I do it – but I don’t use sunbeds and never will because of this.

“Today when the bed cut out I had to get into the bed to fix it and I’m really anxious because I shouldn’t be under any kind of UV rays, I just wanted to make you aware as I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to do that if it happens again just wait for the bed to stop.”

Speaking now about what happened, Ms Lorimer said: “He doesn’t get to make that decision for me. It absolutely wasn’t in my job description to have to go into the sunbeds.

“The fear that melanoma might come back is always there, so I take care of my skin and wouldn’t dream of going on the sunbeds.

“He brought back all the pain and fear of being ill. I didn’t have to tell him my personal circumstances.

“But I thought he would say ‘no problem – we can put something in place so you can keep working here’, as a normal manager would.”

She instructed a solicitor and alleged she was the victim of disability discrimination, and the judge found in her favour.

Recalling her frequent use of tanning beds, the emotional mum said: “It was my chill-time using a sunbed. I absolutely loved it. Who doesn’t love the feel of the sun and going brown.

“But once melanoma spreads you’re dead, so I wouldn’t take the risk now.

“Having cancer was terrifying. Every day I thought I might die. I’m very fortunate that I didn’t have to have chemo.

“I kept working throughout. I don’t know how I managed that with also having my two older kids at the time.

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