§ 34-831. Personnel.

(a)

Body artist training and certification. Persons performing tattooing or body piercing shall successfully complete a department examination, and obtain current certification in Red Cross Basic First Aid/CPR or equivalent and proof of successful completion of an OSHA approved Blood Borne Pathogen/Universal Precautions training program, approved by the department. Training/courses provided by professional body art organizations/associations or by equipment manufacturers may also be submitted for consideration. All certifications must be renewed at a minimum of every two years unless a more frequent time period is specified by the licensing agencies.

(b)

Physician certificate. The body artist shall annually obtain, from a State of Georgia licensed physician, a certificate or letter certifying that the body artist is free of any communicable disease in a communicable stage, including but not limited to Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

(c)

Hepatitis B vaccination available. The person who owns the body art establishment, permit holder or designated agent shall make available, at no cost to the personnel, Hepatitis B vaccination series, as well as any routine booster dose(s) to every person who may have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. The vaccine shall be made available within ten business days of initial work assignment for new personnel.

(d)

Hepatitis B vaccination documentation. Proof shall be provided upon request that all personnel have either completed or were offered and declined in writing, the Hepatitis B vaccination series; that antibody testing has revealed that the employee is immune to Hepatitis B; or that the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. Contraindication requires a dated and signed physician's statement specifying the name of the employee and that the vaccine cannot be given. Personnel who decline to accept the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a form, provided by the establishment, indicating their refusal.

(e)

Employee files. The person who owns the body art establishment, permit holder or designated agent must maintain a file on all employees who perform body art procedures. Employee files must be kept on location for a minimum of two years even if an individual is no longer employed. The employee files must be available for inspection and include the following:

(1)

Report of Hepatitis B Vaccination, Hepatitis B antibody testing, contraindication to Hepatitis B vaccine, or signed Hepatitis B Vaccine declination letter.

(2)

Evidence of Red Cross Basic First Aid/CPR certification or equivalent and completion of an OSHA approved Blood Borne Pathogen/Universal Precautions training program.

(3)

Report and certificate of physical examination by licensed physician.

(4)

A copy of a photo I.D.

(5)

Address of residence and telephone number (mobile number if no home phone).

(g)

Infected employees. No employee, while infected with a disease in a communicable form, who is a carrier of pathogenic organisms that cause such disease or while afflicted with a boil, an infected wound, or an acute respiratory infection, or gastrointestinal illness, shall work in a body art establishment in any capacity in which there is a likelihood of such person transmitting disease to other persons. The person who owns the body art establishment, permit holder or designated agent will promptly notify the department when an employee is known or suspected of having an infectious disease that may be transmitted to other persons.

(h)

Ill employees. No employee who presents with any of the following symptoms will be permitted to work in a body art establishment: diarrhea; fever (in excess of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit); wounds or open skin lesions (that cannot be covered).

(i)

Injured employees. If an employee is injured at the establishment, they shall be administered immediate first aid before returning to work. If a body artist while performing a body art procedure is injured, they shall be administered immediate first aid before being allowed to continue with the procedure. The necessity for additional treatment of an employee shall be at the discretion of the person who owns the establishment, permit holder or designated agent, in concert with the employee.

(Ord. No. 14-0057, Exh. 2, 1-22-14)