HALIBURTON, ON – Safety should be top of mind when getting a tattoo or piercing and the health unit has made it a lot easier to pick the right place to go.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) regularly inspects personal beauty service businesses. The organization said in a release that it is putting a bigger emphasis on safety because it is National Infection Control Week.
The organization has a website set up showing all the results from each shop and encourages anyone planning to visit one to check out how the business did. Each facility can be searched alphabetically and the user can see if it passed.
Another way to make sure a shop is legitimate is to check for the “pass” sign that will be displayed at the business. It will also show the most recent inspection date.
Carol Chan, a Public Health Inspector with the HKPRDHU, said it’s important to be informed when getting body piercings, tattoos, microblading, or similar services.
“These types of procedures involve breaking the skin, which is the body’s first line of defence against illness and infection,” Chan said in the release. “Proper care and cleanliness – especially on the provider’s part – are very important to prevent infection.”
The health unit added that Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV can be contracted through exposure to blood or body fluids, which these procedures pose a risk of.
Chan said businesses that provide personal beauty services must use supplies for cleaning and disinfecting, keep accurate records, follow proper infection and prevention control practices and use an appropriate waste disposal method.
Chan added the majority of local businesses follow the rules.
“The real concern lies with individuals and operations that are not inspected by the Health Unit,” Chan said. “These operations may be doing piercings, tattoos and other procedures ‘undercover’ in private homes.”
The inspector said people should report private providers the health unit and avoid going to them.
The Check Inspection website can also be used to see the results of restaurants, childcare facilities, camps and water providers.