D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 25, r. 25-G302

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 25-G302 - PREVENTING CROSS-CONTAMINATION FROM BODY ARTISTS - WORK AREAS, CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN, AND RESTRICTIONS

302.1

Operators shall ensure body artists encountering a biohazard or other health hazards report it immediately to the manager.

302.2

Operators shall ensure body artists use only single- use jewelry on an individual and the single-use jewelry shall not be reused on another customer.

302.3

All body artists shall wear single- use aprons or lap cloths and single-use gloves which shall be disposed of after completing a procedure on a customer.

302.4

For equipment that is not disposable, operators shall ensure body artists use reusable equipment, such as surgical steel forceps, that is sterilized as specified in Subsections 304.13 and 304.14.

302.5

All operators shall ensure body artists:

(a) Wear clean outer garments, maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness, and conform to hygienic practices while on duty;

(b) Wash their hands, wrists and arms to the elbow thoroughly using hot or tempered water with a liquid germicidal soap before and after tattooing or body-piercing and as often as necessary to remove contaminants;

(c) Dry hands thoroughly with single use disposable towel;

(d) Don new medical- grade latex, vinyl or hypoallergenic single-use disposable gloves on both hands when touching, decontaminating, or handling a surface, object, instrument, or jewelry that is soiled or that is potentially soiled with human blood; and

(e) Don new medical- grade latex, vinyl or hypoallergenic single-use disposable gloves while assembling tattooing and body-piercing instruments and during tattooing and body-piercing procedures, as specified in Chapter 3.

302.6

When a body art session is interrupted, or immediately after gloves are torn or perforated, operators shall ensure the tattoo artist or body-piercer:

(a) Remove and discard the gloves;

(b) Wash and dry their hands as specified in Subsections 302.5(b) and (c); and

(c) Don a new pair of gloves, as specified in Subsection 302.5(d).

302.7

Operators shall ensure body artists use the following universal precautions for all body art procedures:

(a) Don new gloves for routine disinfecting procedures;

(b) Move in such a manner as to avoid re-contamination of work surfaces;

(c) Discard and remove disposable items from work areas after completing a body art procedure on each customer;

(d) Disinfect work surface areas and all equipment that may have been contaminated during the body art procedure;

(e) Dispose of single-use apron and/or lap cloths after use on each customer;

(f) Remove and discard gloves and wash hands;

(g) Discard materials contaminated with bodily fluids immediately, or in accordance with Subsection 307.2;

(h) Disinfect all reusable equipment made of non-porous material after each use. Non-spray wipes for surfaces and liquids for soaking jewelry are preferred over spray disinfectants which may disperse pathogens into the air;

(i) Apply iodine, bacitracin and other antiseptics with single-use applicators.

Applicators that have touched a customer shall not be used to retrieve antiseptics, iodine, etc. from any containers;

(j) Clean contaminated instruments (such as forceps or pliers) of bacitracin or other antibiotic solutions, blood and other particles with an appropriate soap or disinfectant cleaner and hot water, followed by an ultrasonic cleaner and steam autoclave; and

(k) Use sterilization equipment, as specified in Subsections 304.13 through 304.15, and 311.

302.8

Workstations in a body art establishment shall be constructed and maintained to ensure customer privacy by using curtains, folding screens, or individual rooms, and shall not be used as a walk-thru to gain access to other rooms or exits.

302.9

All workstations shall be constructed and equipped with floors, chairs, and table tops that are non-porous, smooth and easily cleanable and maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

302.10

Carpet is not permitted as a floor covering in a work area where tattooing or body piercing is conducted.

302.11

All workstations shall contain a medical- grade sharps container.

302.12

Operators shall ensure each work station for tattoo or body-piercing procedure provides a body artist with a minimum of forty- five square feet (45 sq. ft.) of floor space.

302.13

Each body art establishment shall have a separate cleaning area for decontamination and sterilization procedures, in which the placement of a sterilizer is at least thirty-six (36) inches away from the placement of the required ultrasonic cleaning unit and any sink.

302.14

All solid surfaces and objects in the procedure area and the decontamination and sterilization area that have come in contact with the customer or the materials used in performing the tattoo or body-piercing, including but not limited to chairs, armrests, tables, countertops, and trays, shall be immediately decontaminated after each use and then disinfected by application of a disinfectant, used according to manufacturer's instructions.

302.15

The surfaces and objects in the procedure area shall be disinfected again if an activity that poses a potential contamination occurred in the area after the area was disinfected.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 25, r. 25-G302

Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 13496 (12/29/2017)