Body Art Temporary Events:

Making Sense of

Chaos

Sarah Brustkern and Tara StrachanEl Paso County Department of Health and Environment

Environmental Health ServicesSeptember 29, 2009

The Big Question!

• An artist says to you “I’m planning on having a Body Art Temporary Event, what do I do?”

Background

• The event was to take place February 8- 10, 2008.

• There were to have been 46 shops, local and from abroad that were participating in the event.

• Over 100 artists were to be actively performing body art at the event.

Down to Business: Planning

• Temporary licensing for artists– One license for the event? Or do you license

every artist at the event?

• Infection control training– No single standard course.

• Managing environmental hazards– Ranges from booth set up to waste disposal.

Temporary Body Art Establishment Licenses

• Body Art Temporary Event Coordinator Application -Covers the regulations (condensed)

-Contact information for coordinator-Responsibilities of coordinator-Provides a list of all participants

• Body Art Temporary Event Vendor Form-Provides vendor information -Responsibilities of each vendor-Booth requirements-Hepatitis B vaccination or declination

• Coordinator meeting:- Review regulations and forms - Layout must be provided (with hand sink locations)- Biohazard information provided (written handling procedures and disposal contract)

• Expectations of all artists clearly stated at this time to the event coordinator

• All questions answered, both artist and inspector

Temporary Body Art Establishment Licenses

Infection Control TrainingBloodborne pathogen class (BBP)- No set standard in the state and differs across the country.- El Paso County Board of Health Regulations require that

employees at licensed Body Art Establishments take a BBP class that is taught by the Health Department.

- Alternative solution was needed for out-of-town artists participating at the event.

Solution:- Be flexible and take a few classes online yourself and

see what fits best, for your county’s regulations.- Have all artists take the chosen course prior to event.- EPCDHE required that artists take, at the minimum, the Red

Cross online course.

Environmental Hazards• Sharps and biohazard contract with

temporary event coordinator

• Major concern: Improper disposal Where is the biohazard going?

How will it be transported?

Is it posing a health risk to the public?

Does it follow the county regulations?

Solution: Make a list of all possible questions and concerns. Address these at the meeting. Make sure you feel comfortable with the contract, you are the one inspecting and approving the event!

Yikes! Inspections….ROUND 1

Yikes! Inspections….ROUND 1

Yikes! Inspections….ROUND 1

Inspections…Problems Found

Memorable Quotes

• “You’re gonna contaminate my water”

• “I go to the bathroom to wash my hands”

• “I’m not going to use the hand wash set up”

Issues with Initial Set UpHandwashing• Water temperatures did not meet regulation

requirements.• Artists thought the temporary handwashing set up was

crude and dirty. Many did not wash hands as needed.• The handwashing expectations were not met at the start

of the event and were hard to maintain throughout the event.

Equipment• Absorbent surfaces everywhere. Chairs, carpet,

curtains, and ceiling tiles in clean room.• Plastic liner and bags were used in the attempt to have a

cleanable surface.

Issues with Initial Set Up

Equipment sterilization• Shop was going to sterilize all equipment• Seventy percent of equipment had passed the 6 month “sterile” date

or no date was on the equipment.• Last-minute change, brought in sterilizers and turned a room into a

clean room.

Artist requirements• Artists from all over the country did not read El Paso County

regulations.• Some things that were acceptable at “home” were not acceptable at

the event.

Example- Plastic wrap as dressing for a fresh tattoo.

Issues with Initial Set Up

Eating and drinking • Occurring in booths, alcoholic beverages too.• Artist stated that they ‘usually do this’ at events.

The Fix

Planning• Paper work (Complete)• Layout (Critical)• Meetings (More than one)• Meet with Coordinator & Vendors

Equipment• All disposable!• No need for a clean room!

The Fix

Handwashing• Temporary sinks versus stations• Have one for a set number of artists• No messy buckets or complaints!!!!

Other Issues• Be present during set up to help with

placement of items.• Be FLEXIBLE!

Inspection…ROUND 2

• Corrected violations that could be corrected. Water temperature for handwashing, eating/drinking, porous surfaces, clean room, and disposable equipment.

Questions??

• Contact InformationSarah Brustkernsarahbrustkern@epchealth.org

(719) 578-3112

Tara Strachantarastrachan@epchealth.org(719) 578-3236