WORCESTER — At a Board of Health meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, Commissioner of Inspectional Services Nicholas Antanavica presented a 16‑section draft that would license bodywork businesses and their workers for the first time in the city. The proposal is framed as a direct response to what officials describe as a growing problem of human trafficking operating out of illicit spas.
Key provisions target safety and accountability
The draft would require every owner and practitioner to be at least 21 years old and to submit criminal‑record and sex‑offender registry checks. Anyone convicted of a sex‑related offense or a felony against a person in the past ten years, or with any misdemeanor or felony conviction in the past five years, would be disqualified from obtaining a permit.
Practitioners must hold a national certification from groups such as the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia or the American Reflexology Certification Board, and provide a recent physician’s letter confirming a physical exam, up‑to‑date adult vaccinations and no communicable disease. A CPR‑certified staff member must be on site whenever the business is open, and the absence of a certified individual would trigger immediate suspension.
Operating hours, space requirements and transparency
Licensed establishments could operate only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., a stricter schedule than neighboring Plymouth’s 10 p.m. cutoff. Treatment rooms must be at least 70 square feet, have unlocked front doors during business hours, and be equipped with a hand‑washing sink. Blackout curtains, window sprays and any décor that blocks windows or doors would be prohibited.
Each client would be required to show proof of being at least 18 years old, and businesses would have to record the client’s name, address and date of birth, making those records available to inspectors on request. The draft also bans items “of sexual nature” and stock photos that could be used to conceal illicit activity.
Enforcement and penalties
Inspectional Services, the Worcester Police Department and the city’s Quality of Life Task Force would share authority to suspend a permit on the spot. Inspectors would conduct at least two unannounced visits per year; turning an inspector away would result in immediate revocation.
Beyond routine inspections, the board would have the power to permanently revoke a permit after a hearing finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a criminal act occurred—even without a criminal charge or conviction. Violations such as using an alias, exposing a client’s identity, treating a minor, or allowing anyone to sleep on the premises would trigger loss of the permit for both the establishment and the individual practitioner.
Community safeguards and next steps
The draft requires the State Department’s “Know Your Rights” pamphlet in each employee’s primary language, recognizing bodywork businesses as potential sites of trafficking alongside hotels, nail salons and other venues. Board member Patrick Lowe asked how victims would be assisted; Antanavica said protocols are being developed with community partners and police, though a written plan is not yet finalized.
Board members also discussed the possibility of a general sanitation and safety credential similar to ServSafe for food service. While the number of businesses in Worcester is still being estimated at 50‑75, staff will rely on those figures until a citywide count is completed.
The city Law Department is reviewing the draft. Officials hope to release a final version for public comment in January, schedule a board vote in February and implement the rules in March. A follow‑up presentation is slated for the board’s Dec. 14 meeting.
Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.
