Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 209 - RULES RELATING TO BODY PIERCING › Section 144-209-4 - BODY PIERCING PROCEDURES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. No body
				piercing shall be practiced on the person of any individual who is obviously
				under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or chemical substances. No
				intoxicating beverages or chemical substances shall be consumed on the body
				piercing premises. This rule includes, but is not limited to, the body piercer.
				(Critical)
B. No body piercing
				shall be practiced on the person of any one who is less than 18 years of age,
				as verified by a driver's license, liquor ID card, military ID card, or other
				adequate record without the lawful consent of the minor's parents or guardians.
				In the event a body piercing practitioner proposes to perform services upon a
				person under 18 years of age, the practitioner shall be required to obtain from
				the person's parent(s) or guardian(s) proper identification and the same shall
				be noted on the record. (Critical)
C. The operator shall be 18 years of age or
				older. (Critical)
D. Neither the
				operator nor the person being pierced shall use tobacco in any form while body
				piercing procedure is being performed. (Critical)
E. Body Piercers shall perform only those
				professional services for which they are licensed.
F. The operator shall wash his or her hands
				thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water and hands shall be dried with
				individual single use towels before starting to pierce. (Critical)
G. The operator shall use single service
				impervious gloves on both hands before and during the piercing.
				(Critical)
H. The operator shall
				cleanse the client's skin, excluding the areas surrounding the eyes, by washing
				with an antiseptic solution applied with a clean single-use paper product
				before and after piercing the client's skin. (Critical)
I. All substances shall be dispensed from
				containers in a manner to prevent contamination of the unused portion. Single
				use tubes or containers and applicators shall be cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning
				method and discarded following the piercing service. (Critical)
J. Used needles shall be disposed of in a
				sharps container. Each establishment must register with the Department of
				Environmental Protection Biomedical Waste Management Rules, C.M.R. Ch. 900.
				(Critical)
K. The use of styptic
				pencils, alum blocks, or other solid or liquid styptics to check the flow of
				blood is prohibited. (Critical)
L.
				A medical history of the client shall be obtained. All clients shall be advised
				of possible complications from being body pierced. Anyone with a history of
				diabetes or severe skin infections shall be advised of possible additional
				complications from being body pierced. All clients shall be questioned about
				any history of latex allergy. (Critical)
M. Aftercare shall be administered to each
				client following service. Aftercare shall consist of both verbal and written
				instructions concerning proper care of the pierced area. Instructions shall
				specify:
1. Care following service
2. Possible side effects
3. Restrictions
4. Name of body piercer
5. Name of establishment
6. Contact number
(Critical)