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Factsheet

Ear piercing hygiene standards

Ear piercing is carried out using a needle or more commonly an ear piercing gun. Ear piercing operators should be trained in ear piercing and infection control.

Last updated: 09 August 2011

What is ear piercing?

Ear piercing is carried out using a needle or more commonly an ear piercing gun. Ear piercing operators should be trained in ear piercing and infection control. The following minimum standard are recommended.

Premises

  • All ear piercing premises must be registered with the local council. The register is to be made available for public viewing.
  • The premises must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition at all times.
  • A hand wash basin with hot and cold running water is required in the premises and is recommended to be in the treatment area.
  • Soap or other hand cleaning substance is required to be at the hand wash basin.
  • Paper towel or other single use hand drying equipment is required to be at the hand wash basin.
  • The construction of the premises should meet with local council requirements.
  • The finish on all surfaces within the piercing area should be made of materials that are easily cleaned.
  • Fittings in the piercing area such as benches should be cleaned between each client and/or a clean covering placed over the treatment surface.
  • Adequate lighting is recommended.

Personal Hygiene

  • Ear piercers must wash their hands before and after attending a client.
  • A clean gown or apron must be worn during an ear piercing procedure.
  • If an ear piercer has a cut or open wound on their hands or fingers, they must cover it with a waterproof sealed dressing.
  • When a piercing is carried out, single use gloves must be worn.

Equipment

  • Only an ear piercing gun or a needle should be used to pierce an ear. An ear piercing gun is recommended for use on the lobe of the ear only.
  • The reusable ear piercing gun should not come in contact with the ear.
  • All equipment and/or jewellery used to penetrate the skin must be sterilised.
  • The jewellery should not be handled when loading it into the gun, or inserting it into the opening when using a needle.
  • Disposable cartridges which sit in the gun are used to hold the jewellery in place for the piercing.
  • Most jewellery comes in pre-sterilised packaging and should be intact prior to the piercing.

Procedures

  • Ear piercers should have adequate knowledge on ear piercing and infection control. First aid knowledge is also recommended.
  • All necessary equipment should be set up just prior to starting the procedure.
  • The area to be pierced should be cleaned with a skin antiseptic.
  • No contact should occur between the gun and the ear.
  • Sterile packaging should only be opened when ready to perform the piercing.
  • Jewellery is normally pre-sterilised, jewellery should not be used that has been on display.
  • Contact must not be made with sterile jewellery, otherwise sterile gloves are to be worn. Single use gloves are not sterile unless specified.
  • If an injectable anesthetic or other scheduled substance is used, it must be dispensed by a registered medical practitioner.

After Treatment

  • Single use gloves must be disposed immediately after the procedure.
  • The ear piercing gun is to be cleaned immediately after the procedure.
  • Cartridges that hold the jewellery in place during a piercing should be disposed immediately after piercing.
  • All waste should be bagged appropriately and disposed daily.
  • After care instructions should be provided to the client on cleaning the site and jewellery, infections, healing times and what to look for.
  • There should be no exchange of jewellery once inserted into an opening.

If a needle is used for an ear piercing:

Related information and links

Further information - Public Health Units in NSW
For more information please contact your doctor, local public health unit or community health centre - look under NSW Government at the front of the White Pages
Metropolitan Areas Location Number Rural Areas Location Number
Northern Sydney/Central Coast Hornsby 02 9477 9400 Greater Southern Goulburn 02 4824 1837
  Gosford 02 4349 4845   Albury 02 6080 8900
South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra Randwick 02 9382 8333 Greater Western Broken Hill 08 8080 1499
  Wollongong 02 4221 6700   Dubbo 02 6841 5569
Sydney South West Camperdown 02 9515 9420   Bathurst 02 6339 5601
Sydney West Penrith 02 4734 2022 Hunter/New England Newcastle 02 4924 6477
  Parramatta 02 9840 3603   Tamworth 02 6764 8000
Justice Health Service Matraville 02 9311 2707 North Coast Port Macquarie 02 6588 2750
        Lismore 02 6620 7585

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