CHAPTER 2

Procedures for Studios and Artists

Tattooing facility owners and operators have a responsibility to operate their facility under the structure of well-developed, up to date and principled procedures. It is important to note that if your state has specific regulations regarding the operation of a tattoo business, these regulations should be included in your procedural policies. The following list of recommended procedures, taken from several state requirements, is considered to be a general and responsible list of operating procedures. You should consult your states Health Department to see if a required guideline exists for you.

Operation Procedures

(1) Sanitation
(a) Before working on each patron, the fingernails and hands of the tattoo artist shall be thoroughly washed and scrubbed with warm running water, antibacterial soap, and individual hand brush that is clean and in good repair, then air blown or dried by single use towel prior to beginning work on each person or when interrupted in the process.
(b) Disposable, latex examination gloves shall be worn during the tattooing process. Gloves shall be changed and properly disposed of each time there is an interruption in the application of the tattoo, the gloves become torn or punctured, or whenever their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
(c) Each tattoo artist shall wear a clean outer garment, apron, smock, T-shirt, etc.
(d) Tattoo artists who are experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash, productive cough, jaundice or draining (or open) skin infections, boils, impetigo or scabies shall refrain from tattooing activities.
(e) Only sterilized or single use, disposable razors shall be used to shave the area to be tattooed.
(f) Before placing the design on the patron's skin, the tattoo artist shall treat the skin area with an antibacterial solution.
(g) If an acetate stencil is used by a tattoo artist for transferring the design to the skin, it shall be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed in a germicidal solution for at least twenty (20) minutes and then dried with sterile gauze or dried in the air on a sanitized surface after each use.
(h) If a paper stencil is used by a tattoo artist for transferring the design to the skin, it shall be single use and disposable.
(i) If the design is drawn directly onto the skin, it shall be applied with a single use article only.
(j) A registered tattoo artist or certified tattoo business may set up at fairs, festivals, expositions or any location other than a tattoo studio with the written approval of the local health department for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days.
(k) Cabinets for the storage of instruments, dyes, pigments, single use articles, carbon, and stencils shall be provided for each tattoo artist and shall be maintained in a sanitary manner, which protects them from contamination.
(l) Bulk single use articles shall be commercially packaged and handled to protect them from contamination. Storage of single use articles shall not be in a toilet room or vestibule of toilet rooms nor under nonpotable water lines or exposed sewer lines.
(m) The surface of all work tables and chairs or benches shall be constructed of material which is smooth, light- colored, nonabsorbent, corrosive-resistant, and easily sanitized.
(n) Work tables and chairs or benches shall be sanitized with a germicidal solution after each tattoo application.
(o) Existing tattoo studios on the effective date of this administrative regulation shall be exempt from the required color of the work table.
(p) All materials applied to the human skin shall be from single use articles or transferred from bulk containers to single use containers and shall be disposed of after each use.
(q) No pets, except working dogs, guide dogs or security dogs from a certified trainer, shall be permitted in the studio.

(2) Records
(a) For each patron, proper records of tattoos administered shall be maintained by the holder of a studio certificate.
(b) Records of each patron shall be prepared prior to any procedure being performed and shall include the patron's name and signature, address and age, the date tattooed, the design of the tattoo, its location on the patron's body, and the name of the tattoo artist who performed the work.
(c) Records shall be entered in ink or indelible pencil shall be available at a reasonable time for examination by the local health department in the district or county where the tattoo is performed. The signature of the patron shall be on the record.
(d) Before tattoo administration, there shall be a discussion conducted with the patron on the risks involved in the tattoo requested, and its possible complications, which shall be entered in the record.
(e) Records required by this administrative regulation shall be kept on file for five (5) years by the holder of the studio certification for the studio in which the tattoo was performed.

(3) Consent
(a) Written consent for tattooing of minors shall be obtained from one (1) parent or guardian.
(b) Records of the written consents shall be kept on file for five (5) years by the holder of the studio certification for the tattoo studio in which the tattoo was performed.
(c) The person receiving the tattoo shall attest to the fact that they are not intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

(4) Consumer Instructions
(a) Printed instructions on the care of skin shall be given to each patron or customer after tattooing as a precaution to prevent infection.
(b) A copy of instructions shall be posted in a conspicuous place, clearly visible to the person being tattooed.

(5) Dyes or Pigments
(a) In preparing dyes or pigments to be used by a tattoo artist, only nontoxic sterile materials shall be used. Single-use or individual portions of dyes or pigments in clean, sterilized individual containers or single-use containers shall be used for each patron.
(b) After tattooing, the remaining unused dye or pigment in the single-use or individual containers shall be discarded along with the container.
(c) All dyes or pigments used in tattooing shall be from professional suppliers specifically providing dyes or pigments for the tattooing of human skin.

(6) Sterilization of Needles
(a) A set of individual, sterilized needles shall be used by a tattoo artist for each patron.
(b) To guard against a potential temptation to reuse single-service needles because of exhaustion of existing supplies, not less than twenty-four (24) sets per studio of sterilized needles and tubes shall be on hand for the entire day or night operation. Sterilized instruments shall be resterilized at intervals of no more than six (6) months from the date of the last sterilization.
(c) Used, nondisposable instruments shall be kept in a separate, puncture resistant container until brush scrubbed in hot water and soap, and then sterilized by autoclaving.
(d) If used instruments are ultrasoniced prior to being placed in the used instrument container, they shall be ultrasoniced, and then rinsed under running hot water prior to being placed in the used instrument container.
(e) The ultrasonic unit shall be sanitized with a germicidal solution daily.
(f) If used instruments are not ultrasoniced prior to being placed in the used instrument container, they shall be kept in a germicidal or soap solution until brush scrubbed in hot water and soap, and then sterilized by autoclaving.
(g) Nondisposable instruments including the needle tubes shall be sterilized and shall be handled as to prevent contamination. Instruments to be sterilized shall be sealed in bags specifically made for the purpose of autoclave sterilization, and include the date of sterilization. If nontransparent sterilization bags are utilized, the bag shall also list the contents.
(h) Autoclave sterilization bags, with a color code indicator which changes color upon proper steam sterilization shall be utilized during the autoclave sterilization process.
(i) Instruments shall be placed in the autoclave in such a manner as to allow live steam to circulate around them.
(j) No rusty, defective or faulty instruments shall be kept in the studio.

(7) Aftercare of Tattoo
(a) The completed tattoo shall be washed with a single-use towel saturated with an antibacterial solution.
(b) After drying, antibacterial solution shall be applied from a collapsible metal or plastic tube and the entire area covered with a single-use covering, which may, in turn, be covered with gauze and fastened to the site with adhesive tape.

Facilities and Equipment

(1) General physical environment.
(a) Tattoo studios shall have at least fifty (50) foot-candles of light measured at the height of the work table.
(b) Tattoo studios shall have adequate ventilation.
(c) Walls and ceilings shall be smooth and easily cleaned. Walls and ceilings shall be painted a light color.
(d) The floor of the tattoo work room shall be impervious material. The floor shall be swept and wet mopped daily. Floors, walls or ceilings shall not be swept or cleaned while tattooing is in operation.
(e) Convenient, clean, and sanitary toilet and hand washing facilities shall be made accessible to customers.
(f) The building and equipment shall be maintained in a state of good repair at all times. The studio premises shall be kept clean, neat, and free of litter and rubbish.

(2) Work room.
(a) Each tattoo studio shall have a separate work room not used for any other purpose.
(b) Work rooms shall not be used as a corridor for access to other rooms.
(c) Patrons or customers shall be tattooed only in the work room.
(d) Work rooms shall be equipped with hot and cold running water, and one (1) sink or basin per artist operating at the same time.
(e) Sinks and basins shall be for the exclusive use of the tattoo artists for washing their hands and preparing customers for tattooing.
(f) Sinks shall be equipped with foot, wrist, or single lever action controls, soap, a germicidal solution, single use towels, and individual hand brushes clean and in good repair for each tattoo artist.
(g) Plumbing shall be in compliance with the State or local Plumbing Code.
(h) No person shall consume any food or drink in the work room.

Disposal of Waste

The tattoo studio operators shall dispose of waste products in the following manner:

(1) Needles, scalpels, razors or other sharp instruments used for patient care procedures, shall be segregated from other wastes and placed in puncture resistant, closed containers immediately after use.
(2) Needles shall not be purposely bent or broken, or otherwise manipulated by hand.
(3) Containers of sharp wastes shall be sent to a facility where they are either incinerated or otherwise rendered nonhazardous.
(4) Disposable waste shall be placed in easily cleanable, closed containers provided with tight fitting lids, to prevent leakage or spillage.
(5) Waste containers shall be kept closed when not in use.
(6) Disposable waste shall be handled, stored, and disposed of to minimize direct exposure of personnel to waste materials.
(7) Disposable waste shall be sprayed with a ten (10) percent chlorine solution immediately following each tattoo application.

RETURN