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Destiny Abernathy
Mrs.DeBock
English IV Honors
26 February 2016
Blood-Borne Pathogens in Tattooing and Body Piercings

Body modifications can be a perpetual way to expressing oneself through a variety of

procedures. Some of these procedures include tattooing and piercings. There are more than
hundreds of places on the human body, room for tattoos and piercings. The body is a canvas;
tattoos and piercings are permanent and sometimes temporary tarpaulins to the human frame.
Sometimes tattoos and piercings can cause damage to the skin, not only because it may end up
visually dreadful , but it can also cause diseases from blood-borne pathogens. The risk of bloodborne pathogens should be prevented and reduced in any body modification situation.
Blood-borne pathogens are not only caused by tattoos and piercings. They can be caused
by almost all types of body modifications. They can also be caused by any situation when
dealing with blood from any type of person or animal. Blood-borne pathogens are infectious
microorganisms in human blood (Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention) and
these organisms can cause illnesses and diseases. Some of these diseases include, but are not
limited to hepatitis C (HCV), malaria, syphilis, brucellosis, and more. The training workbook
Bloodborne Pathogens states that Hepatitis B (HBV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) are the two diseases mainly addressed by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard which can be found from the United
States Department of Labor. The Guide to Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace states that
the problems associated with [these infections} are less well known but can result in lifelong

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health problems and carrier status for the infected individual. In a workplace it is important to
know which bloodborne pathogens...you may be exposed to (Bloodborne Pathogens). While
this is important knowledge, it is unlikely for a person to know exactly which pathogen a person
is in danger of in a tattooing and piercing environment.
Although it is improbable for someone to identify specific pathogens in tattooing and
piercing, it is possible to recognize pathogens that have a doubtful exposure risk. Unless a tattoo
or piercing artist is working around animals, rabies is an example of an unlikely bloodborne
disease that could be caught in the tattooing and piercing workplace. Yet, even if some pathogens
have less of a chance of being exposed, all blood should be treated with the possibility that it can
cause infection. The prevention of blood-borne pathogens is crucial to every heterosapien
whether it be in tattooing and piercing or not. If tattoo and piercing artists are at risk for on the
job exposure to blood and other bodily fluids in the workplace they are usually required to have
blood-borne pathogen training. (Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Tattoo Artists - Online
Course). Karen L. Hudson, a tattoos and body piercings expert, explains that there is no
formal training for learning how to tattoo that is regulated by the government (Is a Tattoo
Artist Required to Be Certified). Although this is the case for tattooing, some states require that
artists be certified in blood-borne pathogens. It is also essential for this training to happen for an
artist or any employee of this matter to remain positive of a clean work environment.
Many cleaning prevention procedures are necessary for tattoo artists and body piercers
alike. These procedures help with the dissemination of blood-borne pathogens. A variety of ways
inhibit the serious and deadly diseases caused by blood-borne pathogen contamination. Some of
the ways for pathogen prevention are reducing cross-contamination with gloves, hand washing,
and disposable supplies, disinfecting surfaces, cleaning tools and equipment, and sterilizing

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machines. (Tattoo and Body Art Safety 5). The OSHA course explains an example of crosscontamination which is if a piercer or tattooist places their tools on a counter that has not been
disinfected and then uses the tools for a piercing or tattoo procedure without sterilizing them.
Some blood-borne pathogens can live on objects and surfaces for up to a week (Tattoo and
Body Art Safety 8) so surfaces should be disinfected and sterilized before any procedure. A
tattooist or body piercer can be infected as well as the client. Hands should always be cleansed
and gloves should be worn while working with equipment and clients (Tattoo and Body Art
Safety 8). The use of disposable supplies should be used whenever possible. Some examples of
disposable supplies are pigment caps, razors, rinse cups, sterilized pre-made needle bars, and
more. There are sterilization machines called the Autoclave which uses steam, pressure, and
temperature to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses (Tattoo and Body Art Safety 11). These
procedures are primary prevention actions that should be approached accurately and carefully.
When these processes are followed accurately the risk for exposure is reduced.
When working around blood and skin, tattooists and body piercers are risking infection
for themselves. These workers need to protect themselves before anyone else and treat [the]
victim second (Protecting Yourself From Bloodborne Pathogens). No matter what, there is
always a possibility that the person opposite of the victim will be infected. Steps to follow are
necessary if there has been an exposure. The article Protecting Yourself From Bloodborne
Pathogens explains the following steps for exposure. Immediately, emergency medical
treatment should be sought. The area on the body that was exposed should be flushed with warm
water and washed with soap. It should also be vigorously scrubbed in all areas. The repetitive
scrubbing is what causes decontamination. If there is an open wound, it should be squeezed
gently until blood comes out and washed again. The supervisor who initiates WPIs Exposure

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Incident procedures should be notified. The exposed person should be counseled by their
physician regarding the risk of HIV or HBV infection or other follow-up treatment. Other steps
may be taken for precaution.
The risk of blood-borne pathogens should be prevented and reduced in any body
modification situation; still they can be creative and enjoyable. Since these body modifications
are a way for a person to express himself, a person should not have to limit their choices of self
expression because of negative risks. There are many positive outcomes of tattoos and piercings
and whether or not a person is going to let the risk of blood-borne pathogens be the reason why
they do not modify their body is their choice. Although they can have positive effects they can
still cause diseases and deadly illnesses through these blood-borne pathogen contagions. Tattoos
and body piercings are putative gifts to the human skin with good intentions, but they can turn
into disasters if the correct precautions are not appropriated.

Works Cited

Bloodborne Pathogens. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott-Raven, 1995. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.

"Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention." Safety and Health Topics. N.p., n.d. Web.
01Mar. 2016.

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"Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Tattoo Artists- Online Course." American Red Cross. N.p.,
n.d.Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
"Guide to Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace." Nclabor. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.
"Is a Tattoo Artist Required to Be Certified." About.com Style. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
"Protecting Yourself From Bloodborne Pathogens." Safety:. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Tattoo and Body Art Safety." Antiviral Nucleosides (2003): 259. OSHAcademy. Web. 2 Mar.
2016.