Tattooists sign up to new hygiene rating scheme

Five local tattoo parlours have signed up to a new hygiene rating scheme designed to improve standards and assure customers.

The national scheme, which is voluntary, is supported by the Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and will be carried out by environmental health officers from Bury Council.

The aim is to ensure customers know about a company’s hygiene standards, promote ‘best practice’ in the industry, and reduce the risk of infection from tattooing procedures.

Premises will be given a rating following an inspection – 1 (Needs Improvement), 2 (Satisfactory), 3 (Good), or 4 (Very Good) - and that rating will be displayed.

All five companies on the Bury register have received a 4 (Very Good) rating. They are: Hand Made Tattoo Gallery, Sword & Sparrow, Infinite Tattoos, Quick Draw Tattoo, and S.T. Ink.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for resource and regulation, said: “We also want to draw attention to the risks associated with having a tattoo done at someone’s home. These home tattooists are known as ‘scratchers’ and the quality of work is usually far inferior to that of a registered artist. There is also a high risk of infection and work to correct an infected or low-quality tattoo can result in a much higher overall cost to the consumer.

“There has been a surge in popularity of tattoos in recent years and we want to ensure people are kept safe. The rating system will highlight best practice in the borough and at the same time raise awareness of the dangers of unregistered ‘scratchers’.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 21 October 2015.

Picture: Receiving their certificates from Jon Hobday, consultant in public health at Bury Council, are (from left) Jan Galliano of Infinite Tattoos; Gavin Rodney of Quick Draw Tattoo; Jessica Richmond-Tudor, sister of Lewis Tudor, owner of Sword & Sparrow; Michelle Gray of Quick Draw Tattoo; Lewis Tudor; and Stephen Thompson of S.T. Ink.