Business and Industry

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 requires premises where the following types of skin piercing activities are carried out to be registered with the Council.

• Tattooing
• Ear-piercing
• Electrolysis
• Acupuncture

The Act requires that any premises where the above activities are carried out is registered by the council. This requirement for registration also extends to any persons working within the premises that are engaged in piercing activities. Registration is only granted if the standards of both the premises and the practices being followed are of a high standard.

Once an application has been made and the current fee has been paid an officer will undertake an inspection of the premises. If the officer considers the applicant’s procedures and the premises to be suitable, then registration will be approved.

During the inspection the officer will check compliance with the relevant bye-laws as well as ensuring that general health and safety requirements are being met. The applicant must demonstrate that the procedures, equipment and facilities used are safe, hygienic and prevent the spread of disease. The premises must comply fully with the requirements of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

In premises where standards are unacceptable the council may take legal action against the operator of the business or the ‘piercer’ themselves. There is also provision within the law to allow the courts to remove the registration of these premises.

It is illegal for any person to conduct ear piercing, tattooing, acupuncture or electrolysis unless they are registered and all premises are expected to display their registration certificate.

We are always willing to offer any advice or give any help to any business that is unsure as to how to meet these obligations.

There is currently no requirement for premises offering other types of body piercing activities to be registered with the council. As many offer ear piercing they will be registered for this activity, but as a minimum all premises must meet the Health and Safety at work Act 1974.

Important requirements:

Premises

• All surfaces in any part of the premises used by clients must be kept clean and in good repair
• All furniture and fittings in the treatment area must be kept clean and in good repair
• Tables, couches, seats etc used in the treatment area must have a smooth, impervious surface which is regularly wiped down with disinfectant and covered by a disposable paper sheet, changed after each client.
• The operative must have the highest standards of personal hygiene whilst undertaking piercing activities.
• The operative should not smoke nor drink in the treatment area
• The operative must have access to suitable hand washing facilities.

Equipment

• Any needle, metal instrument or other item of equipment used in the treatment must be in a sterile condition and kept sterile until it is used
• If pre-sterilised items are not used then adequate facilities must be provided for the purpose of sterilisation. Sterilisation equipment must be maintained, used and serviced correctly.
• If tattooing is being undertaken, then all dyes used must be bacteriologically clean and inert. The containers used to hold dyes for each customer must be disposed of at the end of each treatment or sterilised before re-use.

General

• It is an offence to tattoo any person under the age of 18 years (the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969) regardless of parental consent.
• A person under the age of 18 years may receive piercing provided that you have received written permission from, or the treatment is performed in the presence of, the person's parent or guardian.
• The health of the client and the suitability of the treatment must be discussed prior to commencing any treatment.

You can contact the Health and Safety Team by clicking the link below.