Responsibilities - PPE and Vaccination

Employers are responsible for providing PPE to employees who use equipment such as sharps.

PPE for encounters with bloodborne pathogens may include the following:

• Gloves
• Gowns
• Laboratory coats
• Face shields or masks
• Eye protection
• Pocket masks

Whenever splashes or droplets of blood or OPIM pose a hazard to the eyes, nose, or mouth, tattoo artists and body piercers should wear the following:

• Face shields
• Masks
• Protective eyewear

Bodily protection is offered by using the following:

• Laboratory coats
• Gowns
• Gloves
• Aprons

Whenever the potential for exposure to large amounts of infectious material or OPIM is probable, body artists should wear the following:

• Surgical caps
• Hoods
• Shoe covers or boots

Please note that most PPE can be easily penetrated by needles, and most needlestick injuries result from unsafe needles rather than the carelessness of tattoo artists and body piercers. Not all needlestick injuries are preventable, but the instances of injury can be reduced by using needle devices with built-in safety controls.

Following training, employers must make the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination available to all workers with occupational exposure. The vaccination must occur after the worker has received the required bloodborne pathogens training and within 10 days of initial assignment to a job with occupational exposure.

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