ENTRY
H&S
TRAINING RESOURCES · HYGIENE & SAFETY
Tattoo Hygiene & Safety Basics
Every fine line tattoo breaks the skin, so every station has to be run as if contamination is possible at any moment. These are the working habits underneath safe practice: barriers, setup, separation and the disposal of sharps.
A
Barrier protection
A barrier sits between anything you touch with contaminated gloves and anything that can’t be sterilised or thrown away. If a surface is hard to clean properly, cover it, then remove and discard the covering after each client.
SURFACE · BARRIER · WHY
Hands
Single-use disposable gloves, put on after handwashing and changed whenever they tear, touch an uncovered surface or move between tasks.
Machine & grip
Barrier film or sleeves over the machine body and grip, because these are handled constantly and have joins that are difficult to disinfect.
Cords & power
Clip cord or cable sleeves and a covered power supply, so gloved hands can make adjustments mid-session without leaving residue behind.
Bottles
Bags over spray and rinse bottles, which are picked up again and again during a tattoo.
Work surface & seating
A disposable, impervious covering over the tray, plus covers on the parts of the chair or bed that touch the client’s skin.
B
Setting up a workstation in order
1. Clean, then disinfect, every surface, leaving the disinfectant for the contact time on its label.
2. Wash your hands, put on fresh gloves and lay out the barriers.
3. Set out only what this tattoo needs: ink caps, ink, ointment and wipes.
4. Check sterile packaging is intact and in date. Open cartridges in front of the client.
5. After the session, take down in reverse: sharps first, then disposables, then the barriers, then clean the surfaces again.
C
CROSS-CONTAMINATION
Keep clean and used apart
Cross-contamination rarely comes from one big mistake. It builds up through small movements: a gloved hand reaching into a supply drawer, an ink bottle dipped into twice, or a phone picked up mid-session. Decant ink into single-use caps and throw the leftovers away. Keep a clean zone for unopened supplies apart from the working zone. If you need something outside the barriers, take your gloves off first and put on a new pair when you come back.
SHARPS DISPOSAL
One place for every needle
D · LOCAL REQUIREMENTS
Why state rules must be checked locally
Tattooing in Australia is regulated at state and territory level, and local councils often have a role too. Premises standards, infection control expectations, licensing and waste arrangements can all differ depending on where you work. A habit that meets the rules in one place may not be enough in another.
BEFORE A STATION OPENS
Requirements confirmed with your health department and council
Surfaces cleaned, disinfected and covered
Sterile supplies in date and unopened
Sharps container within reach and below its fill line
Clean and working zones clearly separated