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:

• Single use sharps must be disposed of into an approved sharps container.
• Re-useable sharps must be sterilised before reuse.
• Details of sterilisation must be recorded. (See fact sheet "Sterilisation information for the skin penetration industry")

Related information and links

• NSW Health website for skin penetration industry:  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/environment/general/body_grooming.asp