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Board of Body Art Practitioners

Body Art Tool Kit: Resources for New Body Piercing and Tattooing Requirements

Stay in Compliance and Keep Clients Safe, Healthy

Substantial new body piercing and tattooing requirements became
effective on January 1, 2012, but the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) has waited to inspect facilities due to the number and breadth of changes, and also while the agency created a body art "tool kit" meant to provide licensees with resources and information to stay in compliance.

OHLA is distributing a summary of the tool kit, which is found on this page, to licensees statewide in late December 2012. OHLA intends to begin facility inspections in February 2013.

 

Letter/fact sheet to licensees highlighting tool kit resources.

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Standard Body Piercing

Administrative rule has defined standard body piercing to mean all body piercings, including cheek and single point piercings.  The definition of standard body piercing prohibits all genital piercings and Oregon prohibits the piercing of testes, deep shaft (corpus cavernosa), uvula, eyelids, or sub-clavicle.
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Single Point Piercing Versus Dermal Implanting

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​Microdermals:  Allowed ​Dermal Implants:  Prohibited
 
Single point piercing by definition is a standard body piercing procedure.  A single point piercing is NOT prohibited in Oregon.  Administrative rule defines a single point piercing as an anchor or microdermal, which means a single point perforation of any body part for the purpose of inserting an anchor with a step either protruding or flush with the skin.
 
Because the name for a single point piercing varies from microdermal to anchor piercing in the industry, it is often confused with a dermal implant.  Oregon Revised Statute defines a dermal implant to mean the insertion of an object under the skin of a live human being for ornamentation or decoration.  Dermal implanting is currently prohibited in Oregon.
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Specialty Level 1 & 2 (Genital Piercing)

Administrative rules implemented separate requirements for specialty genital piercing.
 
Individuals who obtained a body piercing license prior to January 1, 2012, must first take and pass the standard body piercing written and practical examinations before obtaining a specialty genital piercing license.  Upon passage of the required examinations the individual may submit application for a specialty genital piercing license.  Application requirements include client records which must indicate the number of specialty genital piercings performed.  The requirements for specialty body piercing licenses can be found at OAR 331 Division 905 or at http://www.oregon.gov/OHLA/BAP/Pages/How_to_Get_Licensed.aspx. 

New applicants seeking a specialty level 1 and 2 genital piercing license after January 1, 2013, must obtain Agency prescribed training under an approved supervisor.  There is no pathway to licensure through reciprocity from another state for a specialty level 1 and 2 genital piercing license.
 
In order to pierce genitals in Oregon an individual must hold a specialty level 1 or 2 genital license. Specialty level 1 and 2 genital piercing are both defined in administrative rule and encompass all genital piercings.
 
Oregon prohibits the piercing of testes, deep shaft (corpus cavernosa), uvula, eyelids, or sub-clavicle, even with a specialty authorization.​
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Self-Inspection Checklist

The self inspection checklist is a tool designed to help facilities and licensees maintain compliance between inspections.  The checklist contains valuable tools to help maintain public safety including standards for servicing clients and sterilization requirements for instruments.  The self inspection checklist is available at BAP_Self_Inspection_Checklist_11-26-12.pdf.
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Indicator Strips & Integrators

Administrative rule requires that each non-sterilized or reusable
instrument including jewelry be individually packaged in sterilization pouches, including the use of an indicator strip to assure sufficient temperature during each sterilization cycle has been reached.

Individual packages with indicator strips must be dated with the date the sterilization took place.  All instruments including jewelry which have been sterilized can be stored for up to one year; after one year the instrument including jewelry must be sterilized again.

 

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Sterilization Log

Administrative rules require that results from each sterilization cycle be recorded in a log book.  An example sterilization log has been created to help licensees keep a record of sterilization cycles; however licensees may choose to create a different format for their sterilization log.  The example sterilization log is available at BAP_Autoclave_Sterilization_Log_12-4-12.pdf.
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Internally Threaded Jewely

Administrative rule requires internally threaded jewelry be used for
initial piercings.  Use of externally threaded jewelry for an initial piercing is prohibited in Oregon.  
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Required Mill Certifications for Metal Jewelry

Oregon requires metal jewelry used for initial piercings to be made from specific grades on metal.  “Mill Test Certificates” are required for all metal jewelry on the facility premises. 
 
The Mill Test Certificate must provide evidence of a specific grade of metal with a code designation from the American Society for Testing and Materials or the International Organization for Standardization.
 
The Agency may approve and accept other documentation which proves the specific grade of metal used to produce the jewelry is safe to be used for initial piercings. Examples of Mill Test Certificates are available at Approved_Mill_Test_Certificates.pdf.
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"Double Bagging" Requirement Revised

After January 15, 2013, the term “double bagging” will be eliminated from administrative rule for body piercing and tattooing.  The new language requires all garbage or waste be disposed of in a covered container with a garbage liner. This includes garbage within administrative areas of the facility.
 
The new language also requires all waste which contains blood or other potentially infectious materials be enclosed and secured in a glove or bag, then disposed of in a covered container with a garbage liner immediately following the service, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  As of January 15, 2013, the practice of having two garbage liners in a trash can will no longer be an acceptable method of disposing of waste which contains blood or other potentially infectious materials. 
 
In addition to the new language all facilities will be required to have biohazard labels or red biohazard bags available on the facility premises, to ensure that waste is labeled in accordance with OSHA standards.  Current OSHA standards are available at
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Body Piercing and Tattoo Video

OHLA has produced a video tutorial for body piercers and tattoo artists regarding the new regulations.   The video tutorial was created to assist licensees with complying with the implementation of new practice standards. The video has very useful information pertaining to proper hand washing and gloving techniques, informed consent and sterilization requirements.  
 
A link to the video is available at http://www.youtube.com/user/OHLA2013.
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Many changes have been made related to client records and informed consent.   A combined client record, informed consent and aftercare document has been generated for licensees to use for each client if they choose.  It is important to note that this document only contains information required by administrative rule.  The client record, informed consent and aftercare document is available at http://www.oregon.gov/OHLA/BAP/Pages/forms.aspx.
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Administrative rule requires specific informed consent prescribed by the Agency be provided to clients regarding standard body piercing services and genital piercing services.  Informed consent information for all standard body piercing services is available in one document and informed consent information related to all genital piercing services is available in one document.  The informed consent documents are available at http://www.oregon.gov/OHLA/BAP/Pages/forms.aspx.
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Questions?

If you have questions about the administrative rules in general, you can email or call Samie Patnode at samie.patnode@state.or.us or 503-373-1917. For questions specific to the written and practical examinations, email or call Cerynthia Kingsley at cerynthia.kingsley@state.or.us or 503-373-1816.
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