§ 12-61. Minimum standards.

(1)

Each establishment where body tattoo/body piercing procedures are administered shall provide a work area separate from observers or visitors.

(2)

All new body tattoo/body piercing establishments permitted after adoption of these rules shall have a minimum of 45 square feet of floor space for each operator in the establishment. Multiple workstations shall be separated by dividers, nonabsorbent curtains, or partitions.

(3)

At least one work area shall provide complete privacy for clients by means of doors, nonabsorbent curtains, or similar approved partition.

(4)

A body tattoo/body piercing establishment shall have a cleaning room to be used exclusively for the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments.

(a)

The cleaning room shall have a separate National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) approved instrument sink or stainless steel instrument sink reserved only for instrument disinfectant activities and shall be equipped with hot and cold running water.

(b)

The cleaning room shall be separated from any other area in the facility by means of doors, nonabsorbent curtains, or similar approved partition extending from floor to ceiling or a height of eight feet.

(c)

The cleaning room shall be equipped with an ultrasonic cleaning unit that will remove all foreign matter from the instruments and a medical grade autoclave. The autoclave shall be used to sterilize all nondisposable and reusable body tattoo/body piercing equipment.

(d)

The autoclave shall be separated from the ultrasonic cleaner and the instruments sink by a minimum distance of 48 inches, unless using a splashguard approved by the health department.

(e)

In establishments that only tattoo, the requirement for an ultrasonic cleaning unit and autoclave may be waived if the establishment only stores and uses commercially purchased sterile single-use disposable tattoo instruments.

(5)

A wrist-action or foot pedal-operated hand sink shall be provided for each private workstation and for every two adjacent workstations. Hand sinks shall be no more than 15 feet of unobstructed distance from any workstation. Obstructions include, but are not limited to, doors. Establishments in operation prior to the adoption of these rules and regulations shall have a hand sink located within 35 feet of unobstructed distance from each workstation.

(6)

The use of common towels and cloths is prohibited. Hand sinks shall be equipped with a soap dispenser and single-use disposable towels on a dispenser.

(7)

Hot water must be a minimum of 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

(8)

At least one janitorial sink or one curbed cleaning facility equipped with a floor drain shall be provided and conveniently located for the cleaning of mops or similar wet floor cleaning tools and for the disposal of mop water and similar liquid waste. Any hand-washing sink and instrument sink shall not be used as a janitorial sink.

(9)

Each location shall have the facilities to properly dispose of all waste material. All materials (e.g., needles) must be disposed of in accordance with Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Environmental Protection Division - Solid Waste Management - Chapter 391-3-4.15.

(10)

Sanitary facilities and controls.

(a)

Water supply.

1.

Enough potable water for the needs of the body tattoo/body piercing establishment shall be provided from an approved source that is a public water system; or a nonpublic water system that is constructed, maintained and operated according to applicable state or local codes.

2.

Water from a public water system shall meet 40 CFR 141 — National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and state drinking water quality standards.

3.

Water from a nonpublic water system shall follow guidelines established in the Georgia EPD and Division of Public Health Memorandum of Understanding for Nonpublic Water Supplies.

4.

The most recent sample report for the nonpublic water system shall be retained on file in the body tattoo/body piercing establishment and results must be forwarded to the local environmental health office.

(b)

Sewage. All sewage, including liquid water, shall be disposed of by a public sewerage system or by a sewerage disposal system constructed and operated according to law.

(c)

Plumbing. Plumbing shall be sized, installed, and maintained according to law. There shall be no cross-connection between the potable water supply and any other water supply or other source of contamination.

(11)

Toilet facilities.

(a)

Toilet facilities shall be designed, installed, and maintained according to law. Toilet facilities shall be made available to customers. Public access to toilet facilities shall not be through cleaning rooms or work areas; however, for establishments in business prior to the adoption of these regulations, access through such areas may be allowed if the risk of contamination is determined to be minimal.

(b)

Toilet rooms opening directly into work or client waiting areas shall be completely enclosed and shall have tight-fitting, self-closing, solid doors, which shall be closed except during cleaning or maintenance.

(c)

All toilet rooms shall have sufficient mechanical ventilation to keep them free of excessive heat, steam, condensation, vapors, obnoxious odors, smoke, and fumes.

(d)

Toilet fixtures shall be kept clean and in good repair. A supply of toilet tissue on a dispenser shall be provided at each toilet at all times. Easily cleanable receptacles shall be provided for waste materials. Toilet rooms shall have at least one covered waste receptacle.

(12)

Hand sinks.

(a)

Hand sinks shall be designed, installed, and maintained according to law. Facilities shall be of sufficient number and location to permit convenient use by clients and operators.

(b)

Each hand sink shall be provided with hot and cold water tempered by means of a mixing valve or combination faucet. Any self-closing, slow-closing, or metering faucet used shall be designed to provide a flow of water for at least 20 seconds without the need to reactivate the faucet.

(c)

An approved soap dispenser with liquid soap shall be available at each hand sink. A supply of single-use sanitary towels shall be conveniently located near each lavatory. Easily cleanable covered waste receptacles shall be conveniently located near the hand-washing facilities.

(d)

Soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, and all related fixtures shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(13)

Solid waste.

(a)

Garbage and refuse shall be kept in durable, easily cleanable, leak-proof and non-absorbent containers. Containers shall be kept in a clean and sound condition and disposed of according to O.C.G.A. § 12-8-20.

(b)

At least one covered waste receptacle shall be provided in each operator area and each toilet room. Receptacles in the operator area shall be emptied daily and solid waste shall be removed from the premises at least weekly or more often if necessary. All refuse containers shall be covered when not in use and maintained.

(c)

There shall be a sufficient number of containers to hold all the garbage and refuse that accumulate.

(14)

The premises shall be kept in such condition as to prevent the entrance, harborage, or feeding of insects, rodents, or vermin.

(15)

Floors and floor coverings of all work areas, dressing rooms, locker rooms, toilet rooms and vestibules shall be constructed of smooth, nonabsorbent, durable material and maintained in good repair. Carpeting is allowed in the lobby area only and shall be of closely woven construction, properly installed, easily cleanable, and maintained in good repair.

(16)

Walls, ceilings, and attachments.

(a)

Walls must be painted, covered, or sealed in a manner which would allow for easy and effective cleaning. Ceilings shall be maintained in good repair allowing for easy and effective cleaning.

(b)

Light fixtures, vent covers, wall-mounted fans, and similar equipment attached to walls and ceilings shall be easily cleanable and maintained in good repair.

(17)

Physical facilities. Floors, walls, ceilings, and attached equipment and decorative materials shall be kept clean and maintained in good repair.

(18)

Lighting.

(a)

Artificial light sources shall be installed to provide at least 50-foot candles of light on all work area surfaces and at equipment washing work levels.

(b)

Artificial light sources shall be installed to provide at a distance of 30 inches from the floor at least ten footcandles of light in all other areas.

(19)

All rooms shall have sufficient ventilation to keep them free of excessive heat, steam, condensation, vapors, obnoxious odors, smoke, and fumes.

(20)

Poisonous or toxic materials.

(a)

Materials permitted: There shall be present in the body tattoo/body piercing establishment only those poisonous or toxic materials necessary for maintaining the establishment and cleaning or sanitizing equipment, as well as controlling insects and rodents.

(b)

Containers of poisonous or toxic materials shall be prominently and distinctly labeled according to law for easy identification of contents.

(c)

Toxic items shall be stored separately from other forms of materials used in body tattoo/body piercing procedures.

(d)

Spray bottles containing cleaning solutions may be used for the purpose of cleaning but not while conducting a body tattoo/body piercing procedure.

(22)

Premises.

(a)

Body tattoo/body piercing establishment shall be kept neat, clean, and free of litter and rubbish.

(b)

Only articles necessary for the operation and maintenance of the body tattoo/body piercing establishment shall be stored within the establishment.

(23)

Animals. If applicable, all fish aquariums shall be cleaned and maintained in good repair. Reptiles are prohibited due to the possibility of Salmonella and other infectious microbes.

(24)

Equipment and utensils.

(a)

Materials.

1.

Multiuse equipment and utensils shall be constructed and repaired with safe materials, including finishing materials; they shall be corrosion resistant and nonabsorbent; and they shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable under conditions of normal use. Single-service articles shall be made from clean, sanitary, and safe materials.

2.

Reuse of single-use articles is prohibited.

(b)

Design and fabrication.

1.

General: All equipment and utensils, including plastic ware, shall be designed and fabricated for durability under conditions of normal use and shall be resistant to denting, buckling, pitting, and chipping.

a.

Body tattoo/body piercing operational surfaces shall be easily cleanable, smooth, and free of breaks, open seams, cracks, chips, pits, and similar imperfections, as well as free of difficult to clean internal corners and crevices.

b.

Sinks and drain boards shall be self-draining.

2.

Operational surfaces: Surfaces of equipment not intended as operational surfaces, but which are exposed to splash or debris or which otherwise require frequent cleaning, shall be designed and fabricated to be smooth, washable, free of unnecessary ledges, projections, or crevices and readily accessible for cleaning. Such surfaces shall be of material and in such repair as to be easily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

3.

Needles, needle bars, needle tubes and pigments shall be designed and manufactured for the sole purpose of body tattoo/body piercing.

(25)

Aisles and working spaces. Aisles and working spaces between units of equipment and walls shall be unobstructed and of sufficient width to permit employees to perform their duties readily without contamination of equipment or of operational surfaces by clothing or personal contact.

(26)

Minimum supplies of establishment. Each work station is to be equipped or stocked in the following manner:

(a)

Body tattooing establishments:

•

A minimum of six sterilized needles (with bars), and six sterilized needle tubes;

Body piercing establishments:

•

A minimum of six sterilized needles, six sterilized receiving tubes, six sterilized medical grade forceps, and six sterilized hemostats/sponge clamps.

(b)

A minimum of four extra packages of disposable towels other than the package that is being used;

(c)

A minimum of three extra boxes of medical grade disposable gloves other than the box being used;

(d)

An extra supply of bandages, ointment or gel, and antimicrobial soap.

(Ord. of 4-12-2011, § XI)