Applicable Regulations

Several agencies play a role in mandating best practices for the safe operation of needles used in body art.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is part of the United States Department of Labor. Congress created OSHA to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

Individual States

Individual states have specific laws regarding licensing for tattoo artists and body piercers. One example is the California AB300 Safe Body Art Act. The state of California enacted a bill in 2012 that requires practitioners to comply with specified requirements, including, among other things, client information and questionnaires, vaccination, bloodborne pathogen training, and sanitation. The bill also requires the owner of a body art facility, as defined, to obtain and annually renew a health permit from the local enforcement agency, as specified, and to maintain the body art facility in a specified manner.

To learn more about Body Art Bloodborne Pathogens visit our Bloodborne Pathogens Tattoo Artist & Body Piercers Online Training web page.