Tattoo and piercing parlors in Columbia County may soon have health and safety inspections similar to restaurant ratings.
Columbia County health inspectors say most parlors follow state rules and it's up to the county if it wants to have regular inspections.
Some business owners say the health inspections will benefit customers and tattoo artists.
Some local tattoo parlors say they’re already following the rules and it will help but just mean more paperwork.
Tattoo artists will still have to wear gloves, sterilize their equipment and won't be allowed to have animals at the stores.
If you plan to get a tattoo at a Columbia County parlor, you'll have some ratings to help you pick a store. Morgan Davis has 13 tattoos and several body piercings. She says the ratings will help first time customers.
Davis: "I think it's going to be good for younger people who are first getting tattoos. They don't know the difference between lower rate shops and nicer shops. They just want to get some ink."
James McLaughlin: "I think it's positive that they are regulating because we have an abundance of shops in the town and a lot of people that don't have the knowledge or history of the tattoo industry."
The owner of new image tattoo says for some customers the ratings will just be a number, they’ll pick their store based on what type of tattoo art they want. He says the inspections will force businesses to step it up. One artist, Joshua Clark, says it’ll help.
Joshua Clark: "We use single use, disposable equipment. Everything is a one time procedure, a one-time use."
The proposed ordinance, it says tattoo parlors will need to have private rooms and everyone at the facility must have first aid training.
James McLaughlin: "This is just going to regulate and uniform everything so we're going to be on the same sheet of music."
The changes will force tattoo parlors to shut down if they don't meet standards and that will benefit customers choose a cleaner, well-maintained facility. And because New Image tattoo already has strict regulations, customers won't find too much of a difference.
Joshua Clark: “But for us, it's just business as usual."
Morgan Davis: "I personally would go to a higher rated tattoo parlor just because I want to be safe."
They've had two meetings and the board of health will present this to the commissioners once they hear back from the attorney's.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement