No person shall engage in the practice of tattooing and/or body piercing at any place in the city without complying with the following regulations.
(A) Every place where tattooing and/or body piercing is practiced shall be equipped with an adequate and conveniently located toilet room and hand lavatory for the accommodation of employees and patrons. The hand lavatory shall be supplied with hot and cold running water, under pressure; shall be maintained in good repair at all times; and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Toilet fixtures and seats shall be of a sanitary open front design and readily cleanable. Easily cleanable, covered receptacles shall be provided for waste materials. Every lavatory facility shall be provided with an adequate supply of hand cleansing compound and single service sanitary towels and hand drying devices.
(B) No person having any communicable blood or skin infection or other communicable diseases of the blood or skin shall practice tattooing and/or body piercing or shall be tattooed or body pierced.
(C) All disposable needles, needle bars, tubes, pigment receptacles, stencils outline or marking pens, piercing gun parts in contact with skin, razor blades, sharps, or other equipment utilized for penetrating the skin shall be individually prepackaged and pre-sterilized and stored in a self-sealing sterilizing pouch. No such equipment shall be used for more than one customer. Tools and supplies must be stored in a dust-free container. All bio-hazardous waste shall be disposed of in accordance with law, and disposal procedures shall be approved by the issuing authority. Sterilizing solutions and methods may be used for the purpose of sterilizing instruments other than needles, razor blades, sharps, or other equipment, utilized for penetrating the skin when such sterilizing solutions and methods are approved by the issuing authority.
(D) The following procedures shall be used for skin preparation.
(1) Each operator shall wash his or her hands thoroughly with soap and water and then dry them with a clean towel before and after each tattoo or body piercing. Operators with skin infections of the hand shall not perform a tattooing or body piercing services. The use of sterile surgical gloves is mandatory for all procedures performed under the licensure of this chapter. All jewelry, forceps, piercing equipment, and tattooing equipment not described in division (C) above, that this part of an invasive procedure shall be sterilized in a steam pressure autoclave for at least 15 minutes at a minimum of 250°F (121°C) and at a minimum of 15 pounds of chamber pressure, or a minimum of 240°F (115°C) and at a minimum of ten pounds of chamber pressure before use on a customer, and after their use shall be again so sterilized.
(2) Whenever it is necessary possible to shave the skin, pre-packaged, pre-sterilized, disposable razor blades shall be used. A new disposable razor blade must be used for each customer.
(3) The skin area to be tattooed or pierced shall be thoroughly cleaned with germicidal soap, rinsed thoroughly with water, and sterilized with an antiseptic solution approved by the issuing authority. After tattooing and/or body piercing, a sterile dressing shall be applied to the affected area.
(4) All bandages and surgical dressings used in connection with the tattooing and/or body piercing of any person shall be individually pre-packaged, pre-sterilized, and disposable. Every operation shall provide single service towels or wipes for each customer and such towels or wipes shall be stored and disposed of in a manner of in a bio-hazard container and picked up by a certified bio-hazard waste company or contracted with the local hospital for incineration.
(E) All tables, chairs, furniture, or area on which a patron receives a tattoo or body piercing shall be covered by single service disposable paper or clean linens, or in the alternative, the table, chair, or furniture on which the patron receives a tattoo and/or body piercing shall be impervious to moisture and shall be properly sanitized after each tattoo or body piercing. Tables and counter tops shall be industrial grade Formica or similar material. Drop cloths made of two-ply paper and plastic shall be available for use as needed.
(F) Every operator shall provide single service towels or wipes for each customer or person and such towels and wipes shall be stored and disposed of in a manner acceptable to the issuing authority.
(G) Every operator shall wear clean, washable garments and protective latex disposable gloves when engaged in the practice of tattooing and/or body piercing. If garments are contaminated with blood or body fluids, such garments shall be removed and changed and cleaned or disposed of in a manner acceptable to the issuing authority.
(H) Pigments used in tattooing shall be pre-made and commercially prepared and free from bacteria and noxious agents and substances including mercury. The pigments used from stock solutions for each customer shall be placed in a single service receptacle and such receptacle and remaining solution shall be discarded after use on each customer in accordance with procedures approved by the issuing authority.
(I) All bandages and surgical dressings used in connection with the tattooing and body piercing of any person shall be sterile.
(J) Jewelry for the other parts of the body shall be made of implant grade, high quality stainless steel (300 series), solid 14K and 18K gold niobium, titanium, platinum, or a dense low porosity plastic such as monofilament nylon, acrylic, or Lucite. Ear studs or other jewelry designed for earlobe piercing are not appropriate jewelry for other body parts. Jewelry shall have no nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces which might endanger the tissues. Jewelry shall be pre-sterilized and in a sealed package.
(K) There shall not be less than 150 square feet of floor space at the place where the practice of tattooing and/or body piercing is conducted, and said place shall be so lighted and ventilated as to comply with the standard approved by the issuing authority.
(L) No person shall practice tattooing and/or body piercing while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs. No customer shall be tattooed and/or body pierced while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs.
(M) The operator shall provide the person tattooed and/or body pierced with printed instructions on the approved care of the tattoo and/or body piercing during the healing process.
(N) No smoking shall be allowed in the establishment.
(O) No place licensed as a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment shall be used or occupied as living or sleeping quarters.
(P) No animals or pets shall be allowed in the establishment with the exception of guide dogs or animals to aid handicapped patrons.
(Q) All personnel performing these procedures are strongly urged to obtain an immunization for Hepatitis B.
(Ord. 236, passed 6-9-2008)