Introduction
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 a person who carries on the practice of acupuncture or the business of tattooing, ear-piercing or electrolysis must register the premises where the skin piercing business operates with the Council for the area.
They must also comply with any associated byelaws that may be made by the Local Authority and all relevant health and safety legislation e.g S.2 and S.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which covers, amongst other matters, premises, plant, systems of work and non-employees i.e. client.
Body piercing is not currently subject to registration requirements of the 1982 Act but is still subject to health and safety legislation.
When a needle, razor or other similar instrument breaks a persons skin, blood, serum or small fragments of tissue will adhere to the needle or instrument used. These can then be directly transferred to the bloodstream of another person, or could contaminate materials or other pieces of equipment. In this way, infection could be transmitted. Viral infections that could be transmitted through unhygienic skin piercing include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It is therefore imperative that adequate controls are in place.
Skin Piercing
The following standards (which are often incorporated into local byelaws) provide a useful guide for all skin piercers (including body piercers) on standards that will aid compliance with S2 and S3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Skin Piercing Rooms:
- All internal surfaces to be clean and in good repair
- Floors in tattooists to be smooth and impervious
- Treatment area in tattooists and acupuncturists to be used solely for giving treatment
- Furniture and fittings should be kept clean and in good repair
- Tables, couches and seats used by clients in the treatment area, and surfaces for needles, instruments, materials and equipment immediately prior to use:-
- To have smooth, impervious surface
- To be disinfected
- between clients (tattooists)
- at least daily ( acupuncturists)
- regularly (ear piercing/electrolysis
- Where tables or couches are used, a new disposable sheet to be used for each client
- Prominent "No smoking" signs
Waste Disposal
- Disused needles to be put into covered and leakproof "sharps" boxes; safely disposed of at suitable intervals, and adequate arrangements must be made on needle box emptying
- All other waste to be put into suitable covered containers, emptied daily and disposed of safely
Cleaning/ sterilisation
- Instruments, materials and equipment
(i) Operator
- Protective clothing, coverings, cloths etc - clean, good repair, sterile (as far as is appropriate)
- needle, instrument, equipment to be sterile until used
- dyes to be bacteriologically clean and inert (tattooists)
- dye containers to be either disposable (at each session of treatment) or sterilised before re-use (tattooists)
(ii) Proprietor
- facilities and equipment to be provided for sterilisation (unless disposable/presterilised) and cleansing of equipment, etc
- sufficient gas/electrical points to be provided
- adequate and constant hot and colds water supply
- adequate storage for equipment provided
- Cleanliness of Operators:
(i) Operators:
to ensure they have clean hands, short nails (tattooists and acupuncturists), clean clothing (ear piercing/electrolysis): clean and washable clothing or disposable covering used once only (tattooists and acupuncturists) opened wounds covered by an impermeable dressing, observe prohibition on smoking/eating/drinking in the area.
(ii) Proprietor:
to provide suitable and sufficient washing facilities
Records / Notices
These should be comprehensive and kept for at least 1 year: the registration certificate and copy of the byelaws should also be displayed.
Safe Systems of Work
- The Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) has published guidance of hygienic skin piercing (see References). It includes recommended methods of working for skin piercing activities involving equipment (preparation and use), skin preparation, procedures to be followed and after care.
- After care advice should always be given to clients and should include personal hygiene, expected healing time, potential problems and when to seek medical advice.
- It is essential that sterilisers are well maintained and operate at the correct temperature. Regular checks are required in accordance with the Health and Safety Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.
Body piercing
Body piercing is potentially an extremely hazardous practice if performed badly, from the point of view of the transmission of infection and physical injury. The Body Piercing Consortium, a liaison group of interested organisations, has produced guidelines on safe body piercing which, it is recommended, should be followed.
Checklist
| 1 | Do you carry out any skin piercing? | YES | /NO |
| 2 | If you carry out ear piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis or tattooing are you registered with the local authority? | YES | /NO |
| 3 | Do you comply with the provisions of any relevant skin piercing byelaws? | YES/ | NO |
| 4 | Do you follow recommended methods of working for skin piercing or body piercing? | YES/ | NO |
| 5 | Are you, or your staff, experienced/trained/qualified in skin piercing techniques and practices? | YES/ | NO |
References
- Byelaws relating to skin piercing – published by your Local Authority
- A guide to Hygienic Skin Piercing – Dr Noah (PHLS, CDSC., 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ
- Body piercing Guidelines – The Body Piercing Consortium (April 1995)
- The British Acupuncture Council
- CIEH (2001) Body Art, Cosmetic Therapies and other Special Treatments ISBN 1 902423 80 1
