§ 12-512. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Antibacterial solution means any solution used to retard the growth of bacteria which is approved for application to human skin and includes all products labeled accordingly as approved by FDA.

Biohazard means any infectious agents or parts thereof presenting a real or potential risk to the wellbeing of human or other species, directly through infection or indirectly through disruption of the environment.

Board of health means the board of health or its duly authorized representatives.

Body art means the practice of physical body adornment by the following techniques: body piercing, tattooing, and cosmetic tattooing. The term "body art" does not include, for the purposes of this article, piercing of the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear with pre-sterilized single-use stud and clasp ear piercing systems.

Body art studio means any permanent building, structure, or suite located in a planned commercial center on a permanent foundation, holding a valid City or county business permit or license, wherein a body artist performs body art.

Body art studio permit means the authorization granted by the board of health to the owner to operate a body art studio. Such permit is the property of the board of health.

Body artist means any person who performs body art.

Body artist permit means the authorization granted by the board of health to the body artist to perform body art. Such permit is the property of the board of health.

Body piercing means puncturing or penetrating the skin or mucosa of a person with any sharp instrument and/or the insertion jewelry or other adornment thereto in the opening.

Cosmetic tattooing means to mark or color the skin by pricking in, piercing, or implanting indelible pigments or dyes under the skin or mucosa. Cosmetic tattooing shall include permanent cosmetics, micropigmentation, permanent color technology, and micropigment implantation.

Currently licensed health care professional includes, but is not limited to, licensed physicians, registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), and licensed emergency medical technicians.

Department means the state department of human resources.

Owner means a partnership, corporation, association, business entity, or person or group of persons which/who own, maintain, and control the body art studio and who are legally responsible for the operation of the body art studio.

Parlor means the actual room of the body art studio where the body artist performs procedures.

Sanitary means clean and free of agents of infection or disease.

Sanitized means effective antibacterial treatment by a process that provides a sufficient concentration of chemicals for enough time to reduce the bacteria count, including pathogens, to a safe level on equipment.

Sharps means any discarded article that may cause punctures or cuts to the skin.

Standard precautions means a set of guidelines and controls, published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as "Guidelines for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Health-Care and Public-Safety Workers" in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), June 23, 1989, Vol. 38, No. S-6; "Recommendation for Preventing Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Patients During Exposure-Prone Invasive Procedures," in MMWR, July 12, 1991, Vol. 40, No. RR-8; and "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of HCV Infection and HCV Related Chronic Disease" in MMWR, October 16, 1998, Vol. 47, No. RR-19. These methods of infection control require the employer and the employee to assume that all human blood and specified human body fluids are infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other blood borne pathogens. Precautions include, but are not limited to, hand washing, gloving, personal protective equipment, injury prevention, and proper handling and disposal of needles, other sharp instruments, and blood and body fluid contaminated products. Standard precautions include universal precautions. In the event that the CDC or other primary reference or regulatory authority publishes materials or amends regulations applicable to this definition, this definition shall be deemed amended to include the latest versions of these documents, regulations, and recommendations.

Sterilization means holding an instrument in an autoclave for 15 minutes at 15 pounds pressure at a temperature of 273 degrees Fahrenheit or 121 degrees Celsius.

Sterilizer means an autoclave certified to meet medical standards.

Sterilizer indicator means a tape, strip, or other device designed to change color to indicate that sterilization temperature has been achieved during the sterilization procedure.

Tattoo means to mark or color the skin by pricking in, piercing, or implanting indelible pigments or dyes under the skin or mucosa and includes the definition of tattoo as defined in O.C.G.A. § 31-40-1(1) and as may hereafter be amended. The term "tattoo" also includes all forms of cosmetic tattooing.

Wash means cleansing the skin with warm water and antibacterial soap and drying with single-use towels.

(Res. of 8-3-2006, § 4)