Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 511 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 511-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS
Subject 511-3-8 - BODY ART
Rule 511-3-8-.15 - Tattoo Procedures
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024
(1) Medical grade disposable gloves shall be worn during the preparation of equipment for a tattoo procedure and during the procedure. Vinyl gloves are not permissible.
(2) Before the procedure begins, all instruments to be used during the tattooing must be placed on a medical grade absorbent liner which must be placed on a disinfected surface.
(3) Only a commercially packaged, single-use, pre-sterilized needle assembly with bar shall be used and disposed of immediately after use into a puncture-resistant, or disposable biohazard container. Expired, breached needle packages or needle packages that have become wet may not be re-sterilized and must be discarded.
(4) Sterilized instruments shall remain in sterile packages until opened in front of the client.
(5) Any part of a tattooing machine that may be touched by the artist during the procedure shall be covered with a disposable plastic sheath that is discarded after each procedure and the machine shall be disinfected.
(6) A clip cord sleeve and barrier film shall be used over exposed electrical cords or other approved cleaning and disinfection methods demonstrated to prevent contamination.
(7) All devices used to apply pigments must be designed and used to prevent backflow of pigments into the machine. Needle cartridges must have a membrane.
(8) Single-use towels or gauze shall be used in preparing the site to be tattooed and shall be disposed of after use on each client.
(9) If shaving is necessary, single-use disposable razors shall be used and discarded into a puncture-resistant container between clients and as otherwise needed.
(10) After shaving the area to be tattooed, or if the area does not need to be shaved, the site of the tattoo shall be thoroughly cleaned with an antimicrobial solution used in accordance with the manufacturer's label instructions.
(11) When a workstation rinse cup is used alone, the cup and solution shall be disposable and discarded after each client.
(12) If squirt bottles are used to dispense liquids, the liquid shall be applied onto a single use wipe rather than directly onto the client.
(13) Single-use ointment tubes, applicators, and supplies shall be discarded after each tattoo application.
(14) When a paper stencil is used by a tattoo artist for transferring the design to the skin, it shall be single-use and disposable. The use of roll-on or stick deodorants for tattoo site preparation is prohibited.
(15) The stencil shall be applied with antimicrobial soap, or a Health Authority approved product dispensed from a container in a manner that does not contaminate the unused portion.
(16) When the design is drawn directly onto the skin, autoclavable, pre-sterilized pens shall be used, or single-use, non-toxic pens or markers shall be used and discarded after each use.
(17) The completed tattoo shall be washed with a single-use towel saturated with an antimicrobial solution.
(18) A sterile bandage or dressing shall then be applied to the finished tattoo. For procedures such as "permanent makeup", "microdermapigmentation", "micropigment implantation", "microblading", "microshading", "micro-needling with the use of pigment", cosmetic tattooing or any other similar procedures, the use of a sealed or non-sticking wrap or dressing is not required.
O.C.G.A. § 31-40-5.
