Health inspectors going too far, says Whitehorse hair salon owner

A Whitehorse salon owner,annoyed that she had to install a new sink, sayshealth inspectors' zeal just doesn't wash.

Sheila Robertson, the owner of Hello Gorgeous hair salon, says the government is not using common sense, after inspectors forced her to installa hand washing sink.

Before last fall, Robertson had four shampooing sinks, a bathroom sink and a kitchen sink in her salon, all with hot and cold running water. But Robertson says health inspectors told her that wasn't enoughthe shampooing work station also had to have a hand sink.

Last November, she unhappily replaced a $1,000 shampooing sink with a $600 hand sink.

"This is stupid," Robertson says.

"If we have so much infrastructure and red tape and hoops we've got to jump through, you know what, shut it down, go do something else, or go under.Like, lots of people are collecting EI [employment insurance]and doing hair."

She decided to speak out after hearing newsthis month that Whitehorse'sweekend soup kitchen was told by inspectors to stop serving meals made in volunteers' homes. Robertsonsaid things have become too "top heavy."

Benton Foster, the manager of Environmental Health Services for the territorial government, saiddedicated hand basins are standard for any personal services business across Canada.

The rule is meant to ensure there is always a sink available for washing hands, hesaid.