(a) Premises.
(1) Floor surfaces in the room in which the tattoo or body piercing is administered shall be impervious, smooth and washable. Carpeting is not allowed.
(2) A handwashing facility supplied with hot and cold water under pressure, soap, and single-service towels shall be conveniently located in the tattoo or body piercing area, in addition to what is provided in the toilet room.
(3) Approved waste containers with non-absorbent, durable plastic liners shall be used for all tissues, towels, gauze pads and other similar items used on the client. Any infectious waste shall be disposed of as required by Ch. NR 526, Wis. Adm. Code.
(4) Adequate cabinets with washable surfaces shall be provided for exclusive storage of instruments, dyes, pigments, stencils, and other equipment used in the practice of tattooing or body piercing.
(5) All tattoo or body piercing facilities shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition and in good repair.
(6) The tattoo or body piercing facility application area where the procedure is performed shall be adequately lighted to a minimum of fifty (50) foot candles.
(7) Tattooing or body piercing shall be performed by a tattoo artist or body piercer in a tattoo or body piercing facility completely separated from any living quarters by a solid permanent partition. A solid door leading to the living quarters is permitted, provided it remains closed during business hours. A direct outside entrance to the tattoo or body piercing facility shall be provided.
(b) Equipment.
(1) Autoclaves.
All tattoo or body piercing facilities shall be equipped with an autoclave which is in good working order and which is manufactured with temperature and pressure gauges marked and visible on the outside of the unit:
a. As an alternative to requiring a pressure gauge, spore strips or suspensions shall be used at least weekly and results recorded for performance checks of the autoclave.
b. A record must be maintained for each sterilization cycle, including date, sterilizing temperature, length of time at sterilizing temperature, and what was autoclaved.
c. A minimum of one time sterile indicator tape shall be included with each load sterilized and the results recorded and the autoclave shall be spore tested at least monthly. Spore kill effectiveness testing shall be conducted by an independent laboratory.
d. The autoclave shall be of sufficient size and shall be operated in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and in a manner to prevent crowding of the chamber.
e. The autoclave chamber temperature shall be checked at least weekly with a maximum registering thermometer and results recorded.
(2) Sterilized Instruments.
All instruments used in the practice of tattooing or body piercing shall be sterilized before use:
a. All instruments shall be thoroughly cleaned before being sterilized. This may be done with an ultrasonic cleaner or with a probe, needles, or brush able to enter the smallest opening of the instrument. The cleaning of instruments shall be done with detergent and hot water or other methods approved by health authorities.
b. All instruments used in the tattoo or body piercing procedure shall be stored in a clean, dry manner after sterilization and handled in a way that will prevent recontamination.
(3) Needles.
Needles shall be disposable, sterile, single-patron use.
(4) Stencils.
a. Plastic stencils shall be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water and sanitized after each use. They are to be sanitized by immersion for thirty (30) minutes in a chlorine disinfectant solution prepared by mixing one (1) tablespoon of household bleach containing five percent (5%) chlorine with one (1) pint of water and allowed to air dry.
b. Prior to use, each pre-cleaned and sanitized plastic stencil shall be rinsed in a seventy percent (70%) isopropyl alcohol solution and allowed to air dry.
c. Paper stencils shall only be used once. New paper stencils shall be used for every individual.
(5) Dyes and Inks.
a. The licensee shall submit in writing to the health authorities the source of all dyes and inks used in administering tattoos.
b. Non-toxic dyes or inks shall be taken only from effectively covered squeeze bottle containers that are easy to clean and disinfect.
c. Immediately before applying a tattoo; the dye to be used for the tattoo shall be squeezed from the dye bottles into disposable cups. The disposable cups shall be stored and handled in a manner to prevent them from becoming contaminated. Upon completion of the tattoo, the cups and dye shall be discarded. Any dye in which the needles were dipped shall not be used on another person.
(c) Skin Preparation.
(1) Aseptic Technique.
Aseptic technique must be utilized in the practice of tattooing or body piercing:
a. Each tattoo artist or body piercer is required to scrub his/her hands with liquid soap (i.e., tincture of green soap) and water thoroughly before commencing tattooing or body piercing on the client.
b. If the client's skin is to be shaved, the skin shall be washed with a cleansing antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleaner before shaving. A safety razor shall be used. A new blade shall be used for each client. The blade shall be discarded after each use. Reusable blade holders shall be sterilized after each use. If disposable blade holders are used, they may be used on one client only and then must be discarded.
c. The skin area to be tattooed or body pierced shall first be cleansed with soap and water and then prepared with antiseptic such as seventy percent (70%) alcohol (and allowed to air dry) or other method approved by the health authorities.
d. Single-use gauze pads or towels shall be used in the skin cleaning and preparation.
e. Petroleum jelly applied on the tattoo area shall be dispensed from a single-use disposable container or with a sterile tongue blade or sterile applicator stick which shall be discarded after each use.
(2) Antibacterial Ointments.
After the tattooing or body piercing is completed, only antibacterial ointments shall be applied on the tattoo or body piercing, and if a dressing is to be used, it must be a sterile, non-sticking dressing.
(3) Instructions.
Persons tattooed or body pierced shall be provided with printed instructions regarding tattoo or body pierce care during the healing process.
(d) General Supplies.
(1) All tattoo or body piercing facilities shall have clean, laundered towels, washcloths or disposable paper towels in sufficient quantity for the sanitary operation of the practice of tattooing or body piercing.
(2) A clean towel and washcloth shall be used for each client.
(3) Clean towels and washcloths shall be stored in a closed, dustproof container.
(4) Soiled towels and washcloths shall be stored in an approved covered container.
(5) All tattoo artists or body piercers shall wear clean, washable garments.
(6) The operating table, chair, and supply tables shall be constructed of a material capable of being easily and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
(e) Tattoo Artist and Body Piercer Requirements.
(1) The tattoo artist or body piercer shall be free of infectious or contagious disease that may be transmitted by the practice of tattooing or body piercing.
(2) Tattoo artists or body piercers with open sores or skin infections on the hand or hands shall not be permitted to engage in the practice of tattooing or body piercing. The tattoo artist or body piercer shall wear single-use disposable latex or vinyl gloves during tattooing or body piercing.
(3) Smoking or consumption of food or drink shall not be allowed in the immediate vicinity where the tattoo or body piercing procedure is being performed.
(4) The tattoo artist or body piercer shall wash his/her hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water before any skin preparation, tattooing, or body piercing and after removing gloves. The hands shall be dried with individual single-service towels.
(5) No person shall be present in the immediate vicinity of the area in which tattoos or body piercing are administered unless authorized by the tattoo artist or body piercer.
(6) No animals, except guide dogs, are allowed in the tattoo or body piercing facility.
(7) The work areas, such as counter tops, must be cleaned and wiped with a disinfectant between clients.
(8) Physical examination of tattoo artists or body piercers may be required. Health authorities shall have the power to require any tattoo artist or body piercer to submit to a practicing physician for a physical examination whenever the tattoo artist or body piercer is reasonably suspected of having any infectious or contagious disease that may be transmitted by the practice of tattooing or body piercing. The expense of the physical examination shall be the responsibility of the tattoo artist or body piercer. All medical records shall remain confidential, except as otherwise provided by law. Failure to obtain the required physical examination shall result in suspension or revocation of the tattoo artist or body piercing permit.
(f) Clients.
(1) Inquiry shall be made and no tattooing or body piercing shall be performed on any person who is suspected of having jaundice or hepatitis or who has recovered from jaundice or hepatitis within the preceding six (6) months.
(2) Tattooing or body piercing shall not be performed on any person in an area with an evident skin infection or other skin disease or condition, including, but not limited to, rashes, pimples, boils or infections.