All businesses offering tattooing, piercing or body modifications (e.g. ear lob stretching) must be inspected by the Health Unit to make sure the operators are following correct infection control procedures. The Health Unit recommends that individuals make sure the business they are using has been inspected by asking the operator to see the most recent inspection report. Public health inspectors are available to answer any questions about these reportss. The public can also call the Health Unit to ask for a list of inspected businesses. It is important to remember that tattoos, pierceings and other body modifications are technically an open wound, so they must treated properly or an individual runs the risk getting an infection which can impact their health and ruin their tattoo or piercing.

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• What steps will a reputable operator take to conduct their business?
• How can I contact a public health inspector?

What steps should a reputable operator take to conduct their business?

• All clients with be asked to sign a consent form before any work is done.
• All artists will wash their hands with soap and water and put on a pair of disposable gloves BEFORE any work is done. They will change their gloves after touching anything that might not be sterile.
• New, individually packaged, sterile needles will be used for each tattoo or piercing.
• Skin will be cleaned and disinfected before tattooing or piercing work is done.
• The artist will use fresh ink for each tattoo and pour it into disposable caps in front of the client.
• All jewellery used will be made of high-grade, sterile, surgical steel, titanium, niobium or 14-18 carat gold.
• A piercing gun will only be used to pierce ear lobes.  Any other piercing will be done using a new, individually packaged, sterile needle.
• The artist will use clean and sterile dressings to cover the new tattooed area.
• The business will provide both verbal and written after-care instructions, including information on how to take care of the new tattoo or piercing until it has healed.

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How can I contact a public health inspector?

Public health inspectors are available by calling 625-8318 or 1-888-295-6630, ext. 8318 between the hours of 8:30 to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

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