Body Piercing Advice and Safe Practice - Charnwood Borough ...

What do I need to do to ensure safe
treatment at my premises? (j)
Do I have to wear disposable gloves or other protective
clothing? I have a latex allergy and the gloves irritate my skin
When disposable gloves are worn they provide a two-way barrier that protects both operator and
client. A high standard of hygiene and a reduction in operator skin problems can be achieved by
following a few basic steps:
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Your hands should always be washed and dried thoroughly before putting on disposable
gloves. Instructions on good hand washing techniques are given in Figure 1, page 14;
Cover any cuts or grazes you have prior to putting on gloves and starting treatment;
A fresh pair of disposable examination-style gloves must be worn during each body piercing
procedure and must be disposed of between clients to avoid cross-infection. Never wash and
re-use disposable gloves;
If you are undertaking lengthy, invasive procedures such as implant insertion, surgeon-style
gloves are recommended, as these are sterile at first use. The use of sterile gloves is
particularly important here because such treatments may involve an increased level of skin
piercing and therefore an increased risk of infection for your client. This approach is
supported by the advice of medical practitioners, who would always use sterile, surgeon-style
gloves for similarly invasive procedures;
If you need to temporarily stop work, e.g. to answer a phone, always remove and discard the
gloves you are wearing and replace them when you continue working;
Latex allergies are becoming common with prolonged use of latex gloves, and the use of
nitrile or vinyl gloves will avoid sensitisation. Transparent polythene gloves are loose-fitting
and easily perforated, so are not suitable for this type of work;
Ensure the gloves you use are CE-marked for use with ‘biological agents’, and replace them
immediately if they ever puncture or tear. This means you are protected against
microorganisms if you get blood/blood products on your gloved hands;
Cont
Guidance for operators / Body Piercing
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