(a) Cleaning, sterilization and handling of instruments and supplies.
(1) Cleaning and preparation of instruments for sterilization. After each body piercing operation, insertion tapers, Pennington and other tissue forceps, nostric tubes, needle receiving tubes, ring expanding and closing pliers, files and other instruments are to be placed in an ultrasonic type machine to remove any foreign material. A high quality detergent material which shall be changed daily and is suitable for an ultrasonic machine is to be used. Ultrasonic cleaners must be operated with the lid on to prevent contamination of adjacent surfaces. When this process is completed, the instruments to be rinsed in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions and placed in individual autoclaveable bags or containers, dated with an expiration date not to exceed six months, and sealed.
(2) Sterilization of instruments or supplies.
A. At least one autoclave shall be provided for each body piercing establishment which utilizes reusable equipment or supplies requiring sterilization. Autoclaves must be of a design, style or model that has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for conformance with § 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, being 21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq. Alternate sterilizing equipment may only be used when specifically approved in writing by the township.
B. 1. After each use and before using on another customer, all clamps, pliers or equipment shall be sterilized using the following procedure: the item is to be clean, packaged in a peel- pack which is dated with an expiration date not to exceed six months, and arranged in an autoclave which is operated in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. As the operation time of the autoclave may vary with the type of instrument, the packaging of that item and the arrangement of items in the autoclave, it is critical that the manufacturer’s operation manual be followed. This will assure that each item placed in the autoclave achieves the proper temperature for sterilization.
a. All new corks, rubber bands, hair clips, wooden-handled cotton swabs, toothpicks, gauze pads and other single use items are also to be autoclaved prior to use if they are not received in a sterilized condition from the manufacturer or supplier in accordance with the requirements of subsection (a)(2)B.1.b. below of these regulations.
b. Temperature sensitive autoclave tape, autoclave bags with a chemical color indicator on the bag or any other temperature sensitive medium approved for autoclaves by the township must be applied to each load each time the autoclave is used. To further confirm that the autoclave is operated in a manner to assure sterility of the processed items, it must be tested monthly by using a biological indicator such as spore strips or spore suspensions which are processed by a laboratory. Records documenting such testing must be maintained by the operator for three years.
2. A copy of the manufacturer’s recommended procedure for the operation of the autoclave is to be available for inspection by the township.
(3) Storage. Sterile instruments must be stored in a condition so as to maintain their sterility. All sterile and ready to be used needles and instruments in their autoclave bag or container, or in the manufacturer’s original packaging shall be kept in an easily cleanable, dry enclosed glass, plastic or metal case, cabinet or drawer while not in use. Such enclosure shall be maintained in a sanitary manner at all times. Sterile instruments may not be used if the package has been breached or after the expiration date without first repackaging and resterilizing.
(4) Handling. During the body piercing operation, the needles, instruments and supplies shall be used, handled and temporarily placed as to avoid contamination.
(b) Inspection, shaving and preparation of the skin.
(1) No body piercing shall be done on skin surfaces which have any rash, pimples, boils, infection or any other evidence of an unhealthy condition.
(2) If the skin is to be shaved, the skin surface must first be washed with soap and water. Safety razors with single service blades for each client shall be used for preparation of the areas to be pierced. The blade shall be discarded after each use and the blade holder, if reused, shall be autoclaved after each use.
(3) Prior to piercing, the area to be pierced shall be gently scrubbed with individual packets of povidone-iodine or a sterile gauze pad soaked in a germicidal preparation registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(4) Only medical grade markers or ink and sterile tooth picks are to be used to identify the area to be pierced. Gentian violet may be utilized for oral piercings.
(5) The use of styptic pencils, alum blocks or other solid styptic to check the flow of blood is prohibited.
(c) Body piercing procedure.
(1) The body piercing operator will direct the customer to assure that appropriate jewelry material, sizes and styles for the piercing are selected. Jewelry is to be made from one of the following grades: 316LVM and/or surgical implant grade stainless steel ASTM F138; solid yellow or white gold which is 14K or 18K; titanium meeting ASTM Ti6A4V, F136; niobium; platinum; high-density, low porosity non-toxic plastics meeting FDA standards where applicable (Tygon and PTFE); and autoclavable borosilicate glass (Pyrex). Certification of the quality of the jewelry is to be obtained from the manufacturer/supplier and made available for inspection. Substandard jewelry such as that which is damaged, scratched, intended for earlobes or not expressly designed for body piercing shall not be used. Jewelry made of silver, gold plated or filled or other corrosive metal or threaded jewelry 16 gauge or thicker with external threads shall not be used. Jewelry which has not been sterilized by the manufacturer and maintained in an individual factory sealed package or container is to be placed in a sealed package, dated and sterilized by autoclave. When stored in a closed clean, dry container, jewelry stored in paper autoclave bags may be stored up to three months and up to one year when a full plastic autoclave bag is used.
(2) Ear piercing guns may not be used for piercing any part of the body other than ear lobes and upper ear perimeter.
(3) Piercing needles shall be single service and not reused.
(4) Individuals other than the certified body piercing operator(s)/apprentice are prohibited from conducting body piercing/insertions in the establishment.
(d) Linens. If reusable cloth items are used in the care and treatment of the customer, they shall be changed after each use. The used linens shall be placed in a closed or covered container and laundered on a weekly basis or more frequently depending upon storage capacity and degree of contamination of the linen. Used linens shall be laundered either by a regular commercial laundering or by a noncommercial laundering process which includes immersion in laundry detergent and either chlorine bleach water or water at 160°F for not less than 15 minutes during the washing and rinsing operation. The laundered items shall be stored in a clean, enclosed storage area until needed for immediate use.
(Ord. 832, passed 3-15-2006)