KAWARTHA LAKES-Jen Swanson has owned Salon 31 on Colborne St. in Fenelon Falls for ten years. Over that time she says the business has always passed Health Unit inspections. When she found out that after a recent inspection her business was listed as “closed” on the disclosure website she was shocked. ” I am very upset,” Swanson told Kawartha 411. “The way that social media is these days a business can really be hurt by something like that.”
On July 1, 2018, new disclosure requirements took effect and all Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit inspection results for restaurants, beauty and body art businesses and recreational water facilities began being posted online.
Salon 31 was inspected on December 5th and the inspection report posted online listed the business as “closed” due to the inspection. “Salon 31 in Fenelon Falls is not’ closed’, as the inspection disclosure website indicates.” Bernie Mayer, the Health Unit’s Environmental Health Manager told Kawartha 411 News. ” This is an isolated incident that we are correcting right away. It appears there was a computer glitch that led to the wrong listing on the inspection disclosure website.”
The Health Unit says there were some minor infractions noted in the inspection but nothing to warrant a closure. “The inspection results were reviewed with the salon owner/operator, and some infractions were noted that need to be addressed  by the operator (as is noted on the website).” Mayer says. “These infractions pose very little risk to public health and would not warrant a closure at this time. We are working with the salon operator to address these issues.”
Swanson is frustrated because she has spent years building a good reputation for her business. “That’s one thing we’ve always prided ourselves on is how clean our salon is and we’ve never had any issues with the Health Unit ever.”
According to Mayer this is the first time they have had such an issue and officials are working with the company that houses the website to ensure this type of incident does not repeat itself. “The Health Unit is committed to ensuring all inspection disclosure information on the HKPR CheckINspection website is accurate and up-to-date. We want to assure local residents and businesses that this is the case.”
The information on Salon 31 has now been corrected. Business owners are encouraged to keep an eye on their listing on the Health Unit website.
