Safety and Health for Tattooists and Piercers
Tattooists and piercers work in an industry that is unique in opportunities and challenges. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began visiting tattooing and piercing studios in the 1990s in response to workplace safety and health concerns raised by artists in the industry. Based on these visits and interviews with artists, we found many had concerns about exposures to blood and bloodborne diseases. As a result, we created the NIOSH Body Art Topic Page in 2007 in an effort to clarify how bloodborne pathogen rules and regulations apply to these workers and how artists can lower their risk of contact with blood.
We would like to better meet the needs of tattooists and piercers by addressing other problems or topics of concern among body artists.
Areas of interest include:
- Concerns tattooists and piercers may have about their work environment and/or work practices.
- Topics or problems artists would like us to address.
- What we can do to improve the body art topic page.
Please share your thoughts and suggestions below.
From these suggestions, we hope to better address these problems by more frequently updating our topic page and incorporating a spotlight section called "Get to the point."
If you would like to learn more about body art, or comment more generally, you may also visit our previous body art blog entry from February 2008.
—Amy Mobley and Everett Lehman
Amy Mobley, M.S., is a Health Communications Specialist in NIOSH's Industrywide Studies Branch in the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations & Field Studies.
Everett Lehman, M.S., M.B.A., is a supervisory epidemiologist in NIOSH's Industrywide Studies Branch in the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations & Field Studies.
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One hazard that came to our attention at a state health department is workplace violence, between shops in competition and because of the artists' affiliations outside of work.
Posted 10/28/09 at 9:10 am
Lack understanding of use of sterliztion process and equipment involved
lack of cooperation and consitancy with inspection and undersating of the arts from health departments
proper disenfactants for shops not bleach.
Understanding why certain devices should not be used for piericng and tattoo, defernce between our devices and medical these lines are questionable at best
Posted 10/31/09 at 12:15 am
Thank you for this information; I found it very helpful.
Posted 11/2/09 at 2:30 pm
I agree with the above comment that lack of understanding of the arts from health departments is an issue. As with any occupational group, it is important to understand the culture and workplace dynamics of body artists. Asking the artists directly about their health and safety concerns is a great start to understanding their needs.
I would be interested in how tattoo artists are affected by hand-arm vibration. Tattoo machines vibrate, and some artists spend many hours holding them without taking regular breaks. I know several artists who complain of arm, shoulder, and back pain.
Posted 11/2/09 at 7:35 pm
Another great post.
Thank you for the information, Its good to see such quality posts.
Im subscribing to your blog.
Keep them comming.
Posted 11/3/09 at 7:43 pm
The simplest truth is that whilst the workforce could be in danger of injury, companies are susceptible to being reported to industrial tribunals, specifically when considering the rising number of personal injury solicitors.
By taking up a few basic procedures it's uncomplicated for both staff and businesses to improve safety in the workplace.
Posted 11/4/09 at 7:59 am
This is always good information to have. When I got my tattoo of my dogs on my chest, the man was very clean and I was pleasantly suprised to have not been fearful at all.
Cleanliness is next to godliness I always say.
Posted 11/7/09 at 9:00 am
Government agencies need to impose stricter regulation when it comes to the sterilization and sanitizing processes used within the industry. Currently, there are very few laws that regulate how the equipment is cleaned, nor is there enforcement of the few laws that do exist.
Posted 11/16/09 at 9:57 am
Ya... I totally agree that however, as beautiful as tattoos and body piercings look, they also increase the risk of getting disease, especially blood borne diseases. In addition, the place should be clean as you are at risk of contracting infection if the area where the tattoo or piercing is done is unclean or dirty. You have explained perfect necessary advises which i should shared with my friends too.
Posted 11/19/09 at 2:53 am
YOU SHOULD NOT GET A TATOO CAUSE YOU CAN GET A BAD DIEASES IF I WAS YOU I WOULD NOT GET A TATOO.
Posted 11/24/09 at 8:34 am