Getting a tattoo is often a deeply personal experience. And no matter what motivates it, as a tattoo shop owner or tattoo artist, you understand the importance of tattoo hygiene and tattoo safety. Easily, one of the best ways to keep you and your clients safe is with proper handwashing. But retrofitting older buildings with the proper plumbing can be a hassle. You may not be able to see clients during the installation, costing you revenue. And if the parts aren’t available, the downtime may be longer than expected.

Fortunately, a portable sink offers you a safe, sanitary place to wash your hands without the downtime of installing traditional plumbing. Here’s why sanitation in tattoo studios matters and why you should consider a portable sink for your shop.

Health Risks of an Unsanitary Tattoo Shop

An unsanitary tattoo studio poses a significant risk to a tattoo artist and their client. Some of the more serious issues that can result from poor hygiene practices include:

  • Bloodborne infections. Failing to follow proper hygiene practices increases the risk of HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV).
  • Allergic reactions. While improper hygiene practices won’t cause an allergic reaction, they can contribute to them or make them worse by introducing contamination or increasing skin irritations that may trigger or worsen an inflammatory response.
  • Cross-contamination. Improper cleaning and sanitation of hands, tattoo machines, and the work space can cause cross-contamination, increasing the risk of an allergic reaction or infection.

One other risk is the possibility of bacterial infections, like staph, strep, and MRSA. While these types of infections often happen due to reasons outside the tattoo artist or shop’s control (like a client not following the aftercare instructions), unsanitary conditions inside the tattoo studio can raise the risk of bacterial infections.

General Tattoo Shop Sanitation and Safety Guidelines

As a rule, there are no national standards that govern tattoo shop sanitation and safety. Regulation and enforcement of safety and sanitation at studios often occur at the state level and fall to the local health authorities to monitor and inspect tattoo studios for compliance.

However, all tattoo studios are subject to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, which govern safety in every U.S. workplace. Because tattoo artists are exposed to blood as part of their job duties, tattoo studios must follow OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standards (29 CFR 1910.1030). In a nutshell, OSHA requires that tattoo studios protect their employees from exposure to blood and any bloodborne pathogens. Tattoo studios must:

  • Provide Hepatitis B vaccines to all staff
  • Have a written exposure control plan that describes what the tattoo studio is doing to minimize exposure to blood
  • Offer personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves to all tattoo artists
  • Provide annual training on minimizing bloodborne pathogen exposure

The OSHA standards only apply to tattoo studios with salaried employees, apprentices who are classified as employees, and anyone who meets the OSHA definition of an employee. Tattoo shops that only employ independent tattoo artists (those working as true 1099 contractors) and solo tattoo artists who have no employees are not required to meet OSHA standards. That said, state and local regulations may still require solo tattoo artists and tattoo shops with only independent contractors to meet state sanitation and safety rules.

All Portable Sinks

What Are the OSHA Standards for Bloodborne Pathogens?

The OSHA standards for bloodborne pathogens apply to any business or industry that has the potential to expose employees to blood. To reduce that risk in tattoo shops, studio owners and artists should:

  • Wash their hands with the proper handwashing techniques using soap and hot running water
  • Inspect hands for cuts and sores regularly, and use bandages to cover them while working
  • Wear gloves while working on a client, in addition to washing hands
  • Wash hands after removing gloves
  • Use eye and face protection to reduce the risk of blood exposure due to a splash
  • Check gloves for pinhole tears during the tattoo process
  • Never reuse needles, and always use proper waste disposal after using a needle
  • Prevent tattoo ink bottle nozzles from touching surfaces to prevent cross-contamination
  • Use proper sterilization techniques after each client
  • Have easy and ready access to handwashing stations

Best Hygiene Practices for Tattoo Artists and Shops

While complying with OSHA standards is not negotiable, tattoo artists and tattoo shops may be required to follow additional guidelines outlined by state or local standards. Even when that’s not the case, professional tattoo artists should follow these practices to keep themselves and their clients safe: 

  • Keep nails short and remove hangnails to prevent punctures in gloves
  • Do not tattoo clients when experiencing lesions, dermatitis, or allergic reactions
  • Any product that touches the skin should be single-use
  • Pour the tattoo ink in advance of the tattoo process
  • Wash hands before tattooing a client and after every tattoo procedure
  • Wear gloves for every session and wash hands before donning gloves
  • Have a dedicated handwashing sink for tattoo artists that’s strictly for hands
  • Wash hands when moving between tasks, like after setting up the tattoo machine but before working on a client
  • Have handwashing sinks that are hands-free to operate

How a Portable Sink Makes Proper Sanitation Easy

As noted above, both OSHA standards and the best practice emphasize the importance of handwashing before giving a client a tattoo. What’s more, both also state that easy access to handwashing sinks plays a critical role in preventing cross-contamination and maintaining tattoo safety and tattoo hygiene throughout the tattoo industry. But installing a traditional sink can be messy and expensive, especially when you’re a solo artist. That’s where a portable sink can help.

All Portable Sinks has a wide range of portable sinks that don’t require traditional plumbing and often meet health department regulations. Refillable water tanks, integrated paper towel holders, and a waste tank mean you can have the convenience and safety of a handwashing sink without plumbing.

Many of our models have hot and cold running water, hands-free operation, and integrated soap dispensers, ensuring you have access to safe, clean running water whenever you need it. Check out our full line of portable sinks designed for tattoo shops, or contact us today and learn more about our solutions.