Body Piercing Rationale - Environmental Health - Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Environmental Health

Rationale and Background for the Cerro Gordo County Body Piercing Ordinance

Body art is fast becoming prevalent and popular in all communities. The term "body art" is used to describe body piercing, tattooing, permanent cosmetics, branding, scarification and 3-D body art. Injuries, infections, and occasional transmission of disease are occurring as a result of improper body art application or aftercare procedures.

Many individuals believe that body art establishments are inspected and monitored by some regulatory or health authority. In many states, especially in the case of body piercing, these establishments are not inspected, monitored or regulated. This situation is one of the main reasons for this ordinance. If the mission of a health authority is to prevent disease and improve the health of its citizens, it is incumbent upon health authorities to address this emerging health issue. Contrary to public opinion, body art is not a fad, and it will not quietly go away. Rather, it's becoming mainstream in our society and new forms and expressions of body art are emerging all the time.

This ordinance involves the practice of body piercing. Tattoo establishments in Cerro Gordo County are licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and inspected by the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. Licensing and regulations are performed through the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. Permanent cosmetics, branding, scarification and 3-D body art becoming more common in Cerro Gordo County, so a need for regulation is necessary.

This ordinance exempts the piercing of the outer perimeter and lobe of the ear from these regulations for two reasons: 1) the lack of current epidemiological evidence of disease transmission or conclusive medical evidence of cartilage injury from the use of ear-piercing guns on the outer perimeter and lobe of the ear, and 2) the considerable additional work load impact upon health department staff could not be effectively justified in terms of cost/benefit analysis as far as disease or injury prevention activities are concerned. While the ordinance does not require a training class for upper-perimeter ear and ear lobe piercers using ear-piercing guns, such a class is nonetheless advised.

What should the ordinance cover? Any body piercing regulation should address the physical structure of the establishment, the procedures of the operator, the equipment used and the actions of the client. The physical structure of the establishment should meet minimum sanitary requirements to assure the client and operator of a clean, hygienic environment. Knowledge and practice of universal precautions, sanitation, personal hygiene, sterilization, and aftercare requirements on the part of the operator should be demonstrated to prevent the transmission of disease or injury to the client. To protect both the client and the body art operator, certain information should be disclosed by the client to assist the operator in evaluating the proper procedure to be used. This disclosure should occur in such a manner that the rights of the client are not violated. The records should be kept confidential and available for review by the health department upon request. These records will include information on the location of the piercing, date performed, the name of the operator, and record of the aftercare information given. All body piercing operators should be offered the hepatitis B vaccine series, with recognition of their right of refusal. Employers should be encouraged to require the vaccine series as a pre-employment consideration.

All body piercing establishments should be equipped with approved dry heat sterilizers or autoclaves, complete with operating instructions, and should be monitored monthly with an appropriate biological indicator, such as a spore test. Results should be submitted to an independent laboratory. If only pre-sterilized single use needles are used, a sterilizer may not be required.

At the very least, body piercing clients should receive verbal and written health educational information from the operator so that clients can make an informed decision prior to a body art procedure, as well as written information regarding the client's responsibilities for aftercare of the body art. Placards posted in all body art establishments, giving the name, address, and phone number of the local health authority, should be required, so that the public can report complaints or seek additional information.

Read the Cerro Gordo County Body Piercing ordinance

5/09