Tattoo Tips | Tat-2-SUPPLY

BE WISE. STERILISE WITH A AUTOCLAVE DON'T PUT YOUR LIFE OR YOUR CUSTOMERS AT RISK.
AUTO- CLAVING HOT PRESSURE STEAM STERILISING IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND YOUR CUSTOMERS.
AUTO - CLAVING PROCEDURES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AND WILL GIVE YOU THE FULL REQUIREMENTS .
REMEMBER THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY WHO ARE AGAINST ANY TYPE OF TATTOOING AND WILL USE ANY BREACHES OF THE TATTOOING STERILISING CODE TO BRING DOWN TATTOOING. SO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS AND AS WELL AS OURS BY WORKING TO THE REGULATIONS.
FOR AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMERS WE HAVE EVERY STATE HEALTH DEPT. SKIN PENETRATION ACT DOCUMENTS AND CAN BE PURCHASED FROM US. EVERY KIT SOLD BY US HAS ONE OF THESE DOCUMENTS INCLUDED.

Successful, personal service businesses supply their clients with professionally competent, safe and hygienic services, provided in clean and congenial premises. Proprietors of these services must become aware of the possible wider effects of the procedures they employ. Unsafe or unhygienic procedures can not only affect the health of the client but also jeopardize the health of the operator and aid the spread of infectious diseases. More seriously, where procedures involving penetration of the skin are not performed correctly, they can be the means of transmitting organisms that cause diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

It is essential for proprietors to be fully aware of the potential dangers
of their procedures and to understand the precautions that need to be taken
to minimize the likelihood of infection.

1. The Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1990 set out the following basic principles that must be observed by people operating in establishments that provide personal services:

The premises must be kept clean and hygienic.
Any article to be used for penetrating the skin must be sterile.
Any article that has penetrated the skin or is contaminated with blood must be either disposed of immediately or sterilized before being used on another person.
Any other article to be used on a person must be cleansed before being used on another person.
Operators must keep themselves and their clothing clean and have no exposed cuts, abrasions or wounds.

The purpose of this page is to help tattooists and body piercers to comply with the regulations by explaining how infection can be associated with procedures they employ and precautions they should take to protect their clients, themselves and the community.

The potential for serious infection occurs during tattooing and body piercing. The needles that are used to penetrate the skin at various sites on the body can become contaminated by blood or serum.

HIV (the virus which causes AIDS), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are present in blood and spread by infected blood entering another person's bloodstream. This can happen during tattooing or body piercing, when needles used for penetrating the skin are contaminated with infected blood or serum and are not sterilized before use on another person.

The person at risk may be the next client being treated with the contaminated instrument or you, if you accidentally penetrate your skin with the contaminated instrument. This is called a 'needle-stick' injury. Contact with infected blood, serum or contaminated instruments on open cuts, sores or broken skin can also lead to infection.

Blood or serum does not have to be visible on an instrument or needle for infection to be transmitted. It is important to note: all instruments that penetrate the skin of a person, including needles and attachments such as nozzles, needle bars and tubes, must be sterile.

Some of the ways which cross-contamination can occur in tattoo and body piercing shops are as follows:

If one or more operators share the same equipment or materials.
If used and clean instruments come into contact with one another.
If clean instruments are placed on unclean surfaces.
If strict operator hygiene is not observed.
If contaminated dressings, spatulas, disposable gloves are not disposed of immediately and appropriately after use.
If structural facilities, furnishings and fittings of the premises are not adequately protected, or thoroughly cleaned between clients.
If towels and other articles used on clients are not changed or thoroughly cleaned between clients.

Operators should be aware of the potential for unprotected surfaces and equipment to become contaminated with blood and serum during tattooing or body piercing. Some examples of how this can occur are as follows:

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment without risks to the health of their employees, clients or other persons who go onto their premises. In the tattoo and body piercing industry, this safety involves the provision of:

A safe and effective vaccine for the prevention of Hepatitis B is available. Vaccination is advised for all tattooists, body pierces and staff involved in skin penetration procedures and for staff who may be involved in cleaning skin penetration instruments and equipment.

A primary vaccination course usually consists of three injections over six months. At the end of this time, a blood test can be done to check that the vaccination has been effective. It is recommended that booster doses be given five to seven years after the primary course.

Because of the risk of blood borne infection, operators and clients should avoid contact with other peoples' blood and body fluids. If contact occurs, the following precautions should be taken:

Wash the area of contact thoroughly with soap and warm water. If contact has been with an open wound, broken skin, mucous membrane (mouth, eyes) or penetrating needle-stick injury.
Irrigate the area with water in the case of contact with a mucous membrane.
Encourage bleeding from the wound, and in the case of open wounds and broken skin wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
Report the contact to your local doctor who will give you advice.

Should bleeding occur at any time in the course of a tattooing or body piercing procedure or accidentally, the following procedures should be followed:

Put on disposable gloves if you are not already wearing them.
Stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a dry sterile disposable dressing.
Handle disposable dressings and contaminated instruments carefully to avoid contact with blood or serum from the client or the instrument.
Dispose of contaminated instruments into a sharps container or clean and sterilise the instruments.
Clean surfaces such as benches, chairs or floors that have become contaminated with blood or other body fluids as soon as possible, using a disposable cloth soaked in diluted bleach at 1:4 dilution.
Wash affected areas with hot water and detergent and dry them with a clean disposable wipe.
Disinfect the surface with diluted bleach and leave for a minimum of fifteen minutes before wiping dry.
Dispose of all cloths used for wiping up blood spills by placing them in the bin marked 'infectious waste'.
After treating wounds, handling contaminated dressings or cleaning up blood or other body fluids, remove both gloves, dispose of them in the 'infectious waste' bin and wash hands thoroughly

It is very important that you prepare the work area so as to avoid having to leave the client in the middle of a tattooing or body piercing procedure to get something which may be needed. This increases the risk of cross-contaminating surfaces.

Hands must be washed thoroughly according to the procedure outlined in section 5 and disposable gloves should be worn. Packages containing sterile needles should be opened in front of the client to show that sterile instruments are being used.

To prevent surfaces from being contaminated in the event that an item has to be handled or adjusted while tattooing is in progress:

Cover spray-bottles and ink bottles with single-use plastic bags, so that only the nozzles are exposed.
Cover any surfaces which may need to be touched, for example light fittings and power pack controls, with cling film.
Place the required number of single-use, disposable ink caps into stainless steel ink cap trays and dispense inks into ink caps. Alternatively, dispense inks onto a single-use, disposable tray. Any left over ink must be discarded with the container, after each client.
Place water to be used for rinsing between colours in disposable cups and dispose of the water and cups after each client.
Tissues or wipes to be used during tattoo procedures should be stored where they cannot become contaminated. Enough wipes to be used on one client should be kept in the working area and any not used should be immediately discarded after each client.
Solder sterile needles onto the sterile needle bars using a lead free solder and then clean them to remove any flux residue. After soldering they must then be re-sterilised in the autoclave according to prior to being used on a client.
Wash hands thoroughly and wear disposable latex gloves.
Open autoclave bags containing sterile needles, needle bars and tubes, and set up the tattoo machine in front of the client to show that sterile instruments are being used.

The patient's skin should be clean and free from infection.
If the area to be tattooed needs to be shaved, a disposable safety razor should be used.
After use, the razor must be immediately disposed of into a sharps container.
Prior to tattooing/body piercing, the skin around the site must be disinfected. For the area around the eyes the area should be cleansed with warm water. Skin can be disinfected using any of the following preparations:
- 70 per cent w/w ethyl alcohol.
- 80 per cent v/v ethyl alcohol.
- 60 per cent v/v isopropyl alcohol.
- Alcoholic (isopropyl and ethyl) formulations of 0.5 to 4 per cent w/v chlorhexidine.
- Aqueous or alcoholic povidone-iodine (1 per cent w/v available iodine).

These can be applied to the skin using a spray-bottle or pump pack and wiping with a clean disposable cloth. Alternatively, skin disinfectants may be decanted from their original container into a single-use container. At the end of tattooing/body piercing each client, any remaining fluid, single-use container and disposable cloth must be discarded with the container.

Alcohols in the form of sterile, disposable swabs may also be used to disinfect the skin. Use-by dates on disinfectants must be observed. The time between skin preparation and skin penetration should be at least two minutes but preferably five minutes.

A detergent-based lotion containing one of the above anti-bacterial preparations may be used on the skin prior to placement of a stencil. The application of this lotion on to the skin should be the same as for anti-bacterial skin cleansers. Multiple-use deodorants should never be used prior to the placement of a stencil.
Because of the high risk of cross-contamination with blood, it is important that stencils are not re-used on other clients.
Before tattooing, the client's skin may be covered with lubricating jelly. It is important that the jelly be removed from the original container using a clean single-use applicator. If extra jelly is required on the client, a new spatula should be used each time. Because of the high risk of cross-contamination of the pump outlet, self-dispensing pumps for lubricating jelly should be used only to dispense onto a clean single-use applicator. Under no circumstances should petroleum jelly be removed from a container using gloves or bare fingers. Any left-over jelly must not be returned to the original container and must not be used on another client.

After the completion of each tattoo session on a client, the following procedure should be carried out:

Dismantle tubes, needles and needle bars from the tattoo machine and place them into a puncture resistant autoclavable container with a lid, immediately after completing the treatment. This container should be labelled 'dirty instruments for sterilisation' and be used only for this purpose.
Apply anti-bacterial lotions or creams to the treated area of the skin, if necessary. Remove disposable gloves and dispose of them into the 'infectious waste bin'. Wash hands thoroughly
A suitable anti-bacterial skin cleanser may be used on the area of the skin where the tattoo has been applied. This can also be used on the tattoo during the tattooing procedure.
A clean sterile dressing should be applied over the completed tattoo.
Advice should be given to each client on how to care for their tattoo and how to prevent infection from occurring.
Move dirty instruments to the cleaning area of your shop and, as soon as possible, clean and sterilise them
Remove disposable needles and re-useable needles that are to be disposed of from the needle bar and dispose of the needles immediately into a sharps container.
Place other dirty articles which do not require sterilisation in the cleaning area and clean them as soon as possible. Note - Do not store instruments or needles in disinfectant before or after cleaning.
Dispose of all used single-use items, (other than sharps), such as spatulas, ink caps, used tissues and wipes, into the bin. If any of these items have become contaminated with blood, dispose of them by placing them into the bin marked 'infectious waste'.
Any linen used during a treatment should be placed in a dirty linen container and washed using the procedure outlined in this site. Use disposable cloths and protective coverings on surfaces when a skin penetration procedure is performed on a client. Additional Precautions
Remove the elastic bands from the tattoo machine and dispose of them into the waste bin.
Clean the tattoo machine by first wiping with a clean dry swab, and then thoroughly wiping with clean cotton wool or a pad saturated with 70 per cent w/w ethyl alcohol. All to dry naturally.
Clean containers used for collecting dirty instruments.
Clean and sterilise or dispose of ink cap trays.

After completing body piercing on a client, the following procedure should be carried out:

Place all used disposable instruments into a sharps container immediately after use.
Place all used re-useable instruments into a puncture resistant container with a lid immediately after completing the treatment. This container should be labelled 'dirty instruments for sterilising' and only be used for this purpose.
Apply anti-bacterial lotions or creams to the treated area of the skin, if necessary. Remove your disposable gloves and dispose of them in the 'infectious waste bin'. Wash your hands thoroughly as described in this site.
A suitable anti-bacterial skin cleanser such as those listed in this site may be used on the area of the skin where the piercing has been done.
Advice should be given to each client on how to care for their tattoo/piercing and how to prevent infection from occuring.
Move dirty instruments to the cleaning area of your shop and clean and sterilise them according to the procedure in this site as soon as possible.
If elastic bands are used on clamps, the elastic bands are to be removed and disposed of before the clamps are cleaned and sterilised. Place other dirty articles which do not require sterilisation in the cleaning area and clean them as soon as possible. They must be kept separate from the instruments that require sterilisation. Note - Do not store instruments or needles in disinfectant before or after cleaning.
Dispose of all used disposable items, other than sharps, such as spatulas, into the bin. If any of these items have become contaminated with blood, dispose of them by placing them into the bin marked 'infectious waste'.
Any linen used during a treatment should be placed in a dirty linen container and washed using the procedure outlined in this site. Use disposable cloths and protective coverings on surfaces, when a skin penetration procedure is performed on a client.

After use by each client, the surfaces of chairs, couches and the like, as well as benches, tables and other working surfaces where there has been contact with the client's skin are to be:

Remove all protective coverings on surfaces and equipment, taking care not to contaminate the surfaces which have been protected. These coverings should be disposed of into the infectious waste bin. In addition to this, wash these surfaces with warm water and detergent and dry them with a clean disposable wipe at the end of each working day and when they become visibly soiled. If any surfaces have become contaminated with blood or any other body fluid, they are to be cleaned.

3.4 Cleaning Tattoo/Body Piercing Instruments Prior to Sterilisation (and Any Instrument Contaminated with Blood or Serum)

As soon as possible after use, reusable instruments must undergo cleaning. This is a crucial first step prior to sterilisation. Cleaning should take place in the cleaning area set aside for this purpose. New, re-useable needles and instruments need to be cleaned and sterilised before use, if they are not purchased pre-sterilised.

Wear thick, heavy duty rubber gloves when washing contaminated instruments. This makes handling them safer. Care must be taken at all times to prevent any penetration of the skin or splashing of mucous membranes (such as eyes) during the cleaning process.

Carefully rinse the item in warm running water. Hot water at this stage could thicken protein material and make it stick to the instrument. Cold water will harden fats making cleaning more difficult.

Immerse instruments in hot water and detergent in a sink. While holding the instruments under the surface of the water, scrub the instruments with a heat disinfected (see below) clean brush. This step may be carried out using an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaners work by subjecting instruments to high frequency, high energy sound waves, causing soil to be dislodged from instruments and dropped to the bottom of the tank or be sufficiently loosened to be removed during the rinsing process:

Note: cleaning materials used for cleaning equipment such as nylon brushes and pads, should be disinfected by boiling them for at least five minutes after each cleaning session. When not in use, they should be stored dry.

Ultrasonic cleaners must be operated with the lid on to prevent any micro-organisms present in the cleaning solution from becoming airborne and contaminating surfaces in the shop. They must be operated and maintained according to the manufacturer's directions and must comply with AS 2773.

It must be stressed that ultrasonic cleaners do not sterilise or disinfect instruments. However, they do provide a very safe and effective means of cleaning instruments prior to sterilisation.

3.5 Sterilising Tattoo/Body Piercing Instruments (and Any Instrument Contaminated with Blood or Serum)

Tattooing instruments which must be sterile before use are the tube, nozzle, needle, needle bar and any other instrument that has been contaminated with blood or serum. Instruments must be cleaned and sterilised before they are used on another client, and forceps used to handle sterile instruments must also be sterile. Effective sterilisation depends on the following factors:

Cleanliness - the articles to be sterilised must be thoroughly pre-cleaned to allow good contact for all surfaces to be sterilised.

Temperature - the correct temperature must be maintained throughout the articles being sterilised.

Time - the sterilising temperature must be maintained for the correct period of time. The only method of sterilisation appropriate is autoclaving. Bench-top autoclaves should conform to Australian Standards AS 2182. Sterilisation cannot be achieved using microwave ovens, pressure cookers, ultraviolet cabinets, boiling water units, ultrasonic cleaners, and similar appliances. Wiping instruments with disinfectant prior to use does not sterilise them.

All instruments and articles that are not intended to penetrate the skin, but that are used on clients, must be thoroughly cleaned before and after each use. Containers, including their lids, used for the storage of items and for the collection of dirty instruments, must also be thoroughly cleaned before and after each use. Follow this procedure with instruments and articles that can be immersed in water:

Thoroughly wash with hot water and soap or detergent using a good scrubbing action.

Store instruments in a clean, impervious, and covered container. Follow this procedure with instruments and articles that would be damaged if immersed in water, for example, the electrical handpiece:

Thoroughly wipe with clean cotton wool or a cotton pad saturated with 70 per cent w/w ethyl alcohol.

Store clean instruments in a clean, impervious, covered container. Follow this procedure with garments and other washable fabrics:

With the exception of the use of 70 per cent alcohol to cleanse instruments that would be damaged if immersed in water, all non skin penetration instruments used in tattooing and body piercing procedures can be brought to a satisfactory level of freedom from micro-organisms if they are thoroughly cleansed in accordance with 'instruments that can be immersed in water' (section 3.6).

The routine use of disinfectants, including glutaraldehyde is no longer recommended. Disinfecting solutions that have been used by many tattooists and body piercers in the past have been found to be ineffective, have not been used properly, or have been found to be inappropriate for use in the tattooing industry. All tattoo and body piercing instruments must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised according to the procedure in this site.

Under no circumstances should instruments be stored in
disinfectants before or after cleaning or sterilising.

All references to 'bleach' throughout this site, relate to household grade bleach products with a concentration of 40,000 parts per million available chlorine (ppm avCl) or 4 per cent avCl.

To dilute bleach for a 1:4 dilution, add 1 cup of bleach (250 ml) to 3 cups of water (750 ml). Only dilute bleach on the same day it is to be used as its effectiveness deteriorates rapidly.

To prevent deterioration, store bleach in dark, cool areas. Use-by dates on bleach products must be strictly adhered to. Wear gloves when handling bleach, as it can cause skin irritation. Take care to avoid bleach coming into contact with most metals as they can be easily rusted or corroded.