Each person who operates a tattooing establishment shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Tattooing Room.
(1) The room in which tattooing is done shall have an area of not less than one hundred (100) square feet. The walls, floors and ceiling shall have an impervious, smooth and washable surface.
(2) A toilet and lavatory available to the public shall be located in the establishment and shall be accessible at all times that the tattooing establishment is open for business. The lavatory shall be supplied with hot and cold water, soap and sanitary towels.
(3) All tables shall have an impervious and non-absorbent surface, and other equipment shall be constructed of material that can be easily cleaned, shall be light in color, with a smooth washable finish, and shall be separated from waiting customers or observers by a panel at least six feet high or by a door.
(4) The entire premises and equipment shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition and in good repair.
(5) The premises shall meet all requirements of the Americans under Disabilities Act (ADA).
(b) Preparation for Tattoo.
(1) The operator shall scrub his hands for two minutes with an antiseptic soap and water before starting to tattoo; the hands shall be dried with individual single-use towels. Surgical gloves shall be worn on both hands by the tattoo operator while tattooing.
(2) No skin shall be penetrated, abraded, burned, or treated with chemicals for the purpose of removing, camouflaging or altering any blemish, birthmark, scar or tattoo.
(3) Safety razors with a new, single-service blade for each customer or patron or a straight-edge razor may be used which will be a single use razor to be discarded.
(4) The area to be tattooed shall first be thoroughly washed for a period of two minutes with warm water to which has been added an antiseptic liquid soap. A sterile single-use sponge shall be used to scrub the area. After shaving and before tattooing is begun, a solution of seventy percent alcohol shall be applied to the area with a single-use sponge used and applied with a sterile instrument.
(5) Only petroleum jelly in collapsible metal or plastic tubes, or its equivalent as approved by the Health Commissioner, shall be used on the area to be tattooed, and it shall be applied with a sterile gauze.
(6) The use of styptic pencils, alum blocks, or other solid styptics to check the flow of blood is prohibited.
(7) Single-service or individual containers of dye or ink shall be used for each patron and the container therefor shall be discarded immediately after completing work on a patron and any dye in which needles were dipped shall not be used on another. Excess dye or ink shall be removed from the skin with an individual sterile sponge or a disposable paper tissue which shall be used only on one person and then immediately discarded. After completing work on one person, the tattooed area shall be washed with sterile gauze saturated with an antiseptic soap solution approved by the Health Commissioner, or a seventy percent alcohol solution. The tattooed area shall be allowed to dry and petroleum jelly from a collapsible or plastic tube shall be applied, using sterile gauze. A sterile gauze dressing shall then be fastened to the tattooed area with adhesive.
(c) Sterilization of Equipment and Storage.
(1) All clean and ready-to-use needles and instruments shall be kept in a closed glass or metal case or storage cabinet while not in use. Such cabinets shall be maintained in a sanitary manner at all times.
(2) A steam sterilizer (autoclave) shall be provided for sterilizing all needles and similar instruments before use on any customer, person, or patron. (Alternate sterilizing procedures may be used when specifically approved by the Health Commissioner.) Sterilization of equipment will be accomplished by exposure to live steam for at least thirty (30) minutes at a minimum pressure of fifteen (15) pounds per square inch, temperature of two hundred forty (240) degrees Fahrenheit or one hundred sixteen (116) degrees Celsius.
(3) The needles and instruments required to be sterilized shall be so used, handled and temporarily placed during tattooing so that they will not be contaminated.
(d) Medical Doctor.
(1) Tattooing must be performed by a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of Ohio, or by an operator under the direction and supervision of a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of Ohio.
(2) Any medical doctor retained by a tattooing establishment pursuant to subsection (d)(1) hereof, shall annually register with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health prior to performing or supervising tattoo operations.
(3) Any person who violates subsection (d)(1) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Subsection (d)(1) hereof shall be enforced by the Director of Public Safety or designee, the Division of Police, or any public health official.
(Ord. 46-2002. Passed 7-8-02.)