Tattoo Shop Closed Due To Health Concerns

June 25th, 2009 · No Comments

Whyte Avenue Tattoo Shop Closed Over Health Concerns
By Sun Media
Published : June 18, 2009

ALBERTA, CANADA – Alberta health is calling on anyone tattooed or pierced at a Whyte Avenue shop this year to get tested for disease.

Zipp’s Tattoo & Museum, 10028 82 Avenue, was ordered closed after Alberta Health Services became aware of their practices.

Among the infractions, according to the Closure Order:

-Instruments being used on clients were not in a clean or sterile condition

-There was inadequate antiseptic treatment of the skin prior to performing the procedure

-The operator indicated that he has been recently tattooing animals in the studio.

“The lack of standard sterilization practices of reusable instruments and safety precautions can cause a risk for disease transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV,” said a release. “Anyone who has had any body art or piercing done at Zipp’s Tattoo & Museum since January 2009 is asked to call 780-413-4977 for further advice.”

Residents with any health-related concerns can call Health Link Alberta to speak to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 780-408-LINK (5465) or outside the local calling area, toll free at 1-866-408-LINK (5465).

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Anyone who has been inked at Zipp’s Tattoo and Museum since January 2009 should get HIV and hepatitis B and C tests, Alberta Health Services said yesterday.

The parlour, at 10028 82 Ave., was closed June 5 for infringing on several health regulations, including reusing instruments that had not been properly sanitized, not cleaning surfaces thoroughly and tattooing animals in the studio.

Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health for the province, said he didn’t know the level of risk to the shop’s clients. People are urged to call Health Link Alberta at 780-408-5465, and get tested.

“We don’t know at this point what the risk is because we don’t know how many people have undergone tattoo or body piercing there,” Predy said. “We just want to play it safe and have people give us a call.”

Yesterday afternoon, the tattoo shop remained closed. The front room of the parlour was empty, except for tattoo designs on the wall.

The owner, who wanted to be identified only as Eric, said he didn’t want to speak to media until the business was up and running again.

He did say, however, that he was planning to switch to single-use needles rather than reusing them as he has in the past.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS

He said he has been working in the industry for more than 30 years. None of his clients have tried to contact him in the wake of the closure, he added.

Reactions of tattooed patrons on Whyte Avenue was mixed. Many said they felt comfortable at the Edmonton shops where they had been inked, but one newcomer to the city said he wouldn’t be getting body art here any time soon.

“I just got here (to Edmonton) a month ago and I just got some coloring done,” said Steve, who declined to give his last name. He panicked in a moment of confusion when he learned Zipp’s was only a block from the parlor he had gone to.

“(The artist) just comes out of the back with a needle,” he added, saying he doesn’t know if it was sterile or not.

That’s the kind of reaction that worries Lexei, a body piercer at Shambhala Tattoos.

Lexei said while her studio seeks out regular contamination training, tattoo artists don’t have to have any type of license.

“Even a hair dresser has to have a license,” she said. “There’s very minimal requirement to do what we do.”

She said people seeking body art should, first, take a look at the studio and see if they can spot any health infractions, a message echoed by Predy.

SANITIZATION MACHINE

Every shop should have a sanitization machine called an autoclave.

Each month parlors are required to submit a spore count on the machine to health officials to ensure it’s sanitary.

Potential clients should ask to see the report, Lexei said.

“It’s devastating to our industry when this happens,” she said.

“Especially when we have a great city for body art.”

Source : Edmonton Sun