1. Additional Requirements to the General Guidelines
i) The person performing the ear piercing must wear single-use (non-sterile) gloves on both hands during the procedure. Sterile studs must not be handled with bare hands.
ii) Ear piercing guns using sterile, disposable cartridges or sterile, single-use, disposable parts which contact the ear are strongly recommended over guns with a fixed stud adaptor and clasp retainer (‘old-style’ guns).
iii) All guns must be loaded without touching the jewelry or the stud-holding sterile, disposable devices on the gun.
iv) The piercing gun equipped with disposable parts must be cleaned and disinfected with at least an intermediate level disinfectant. Refer to Disinfection Chart.
v) Ear piercing guns without disposable parts which come in direct contact with the ear must be sterilized between client use.
vi) A sink with potable hot and cold running water must be provided for cleaning of equipment/instruments for all personal services settings. The sink must be conveniently located near the work area and maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. If this is the only sink available, water from the sink will be used to fill the container used for soaking dirty instruments prior to cleaning. The container will be placed in the designated “dirty area,” leaving the sink clean and free for hand washing (i.e. dirty instruments are not to rest in the sink).
- The washroom sink(s) within the PSS premises are acceptable.
- Washroom sinks used by more than one premises are not acceptable (i.e. in a mall).
The exemption to the above is for ear piercing premises that only use the disposable cartridge system. This ear piercing gun can be cleaned using a disinfectant wipe cleaner before intermediate disinfection.
vii) Dispensable liquid or powdered soap and single-use hand towels on a dispenser must be provided for hand washing. The same sink used for cleaning of equipment/instruments can also be used for hand washing as above. Alternatively, an acceptable hand sanitizer can be used for hand hygiene if hands are not visibly soiled. If hands are visibly soiled, washing with soap and water must be done.
viii) If a surface anesthetic is used, it must be applied before the use of the skin antiseptic, using a disposable swab.
ix) The skin must be cleansed with a skin antiseptic. If the piercing site is to be marked, it must be done with an indelible ink before the skin is cleansed.
x) After each client, all disposable parts must be discarded. Unused jewelry in open packages must not be used in piercing.
xi) Store the gun in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination. Avoid touching the gun unless hands are washed and single-use (non-sterile) gloves are worn.
xii) Clients must be given verbal and written ear piercing after-care, such as:
Normal bathing and showering is permitted but otherwise keep the pierced area dry;
Clean hands immediately before touching jewelry;
Turn jewelry when wound is not dry;
Do not closely cover wound – allow access to air;
Discuss the expected healing time of the wound with the client;
Describe possible complications and their signs and symptoms;
- Advise on how to deal with slight redness, pain or swelling and recommend consulting a family physician if the problem does not improve within 24 hours; and
- Advise not to remove the jewelry from an apparently infected piercing but to contact the piercer and seek medical advice.
Note: Ear piercing guns are not to be used on any other part of the body except the ear lobes.
Developed by Christian Lapensée, City of Ottawa Public Health. Reproduced with permission by the North BayParry Sound District Health Unit, 681 Commercial Street, North Bay, ON P1B 4E7 (705) 474-1400.
Revised:
06/12/2008 bot="Timestamp" endspan i-checksum="12544" | 
