Body Art

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Creating living art is a unique talent, but it puts tattooists and piercers at risk of coming in contact with their client's blood.  This means artists may also be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen, such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The chances of getting or being exposed to a bloodborne disease can be lowered if tattooists and piercers:

These viruses can be dangerous. They can make you sick and they can possibly make your family sick, if they are exposed. Some of these diseases are permanent and can be fatal.

Artists can be exposed to a bloodborne virus during the set-up, procedure, break down, and clean-up stages. These exposures can occur through needlesticks, contact with dried blood on equipment or surfaces, or blood splashes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Keeping a clean shop and using safe work practices, ensures a safe and professional atmosphere for artists and clients.

The contents of this web page represent recommendations by NIOSH. They draw upon regulations and other materials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the U.S. Department of Labor, upon guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and from findings and recommendations by NIOSH. Sources for these recommendations are cited in footnotes. In considering these NIOSH recommendations, users should also be aware of applicable state and local laws that may impact their implementation.