Health & Safety

We as a company are proud to be a part of the B-Safe program, which stands for Biological Spore-Test Analysis for Efficiency. Our B-Safe program is run by the Germiphene Corporation, and our spore strip samples, from our sterlization equipment, are sent to them which are tested monthly. After the tests are performed Germiphene sends a pass sticker along with a report form to put on our certificate of participation. Wild Ink has these tests performed for the safety of our customers and employees. We encourage you to come in and ask about our sterilzation procedures and any other concerns you may have.

The sterilization equipment utilized in all Wild Ink shops meet or exceed the accepted standards for instrument sterilization, provided test strips used in the process of sterilization confirmation are used as per instructions by the B-Safe office. For patient protection, this equipment is monitored regularly as part of an on-going assurance program conducted by Germiphene Corporation.

Our artists follow health and safety practices to protect themselves as well as their clients from blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Our practices include:

• Use single-use, disposable needles, tubes and razors.  Disposable tattoo needles, tubes, and razors are used on one person and then thrown away.  Reusing needles, tubes, or razors is not safe. It is also never safe to reuse pigment.
• Safely dispose of needles and razors.  Used needles and razors are thrown away in a biohazard-labelled, disposable sharps container to protect both the client and the person changing or handling the trash bag from getting poked.
• Wash hands before and after putting on disposable gloves.  Gloves are always worn while working with equipment and clients, changed when necessary, and are not reused.
• Clean and sterilize reusable tools and equipment.  Some tools and equipment can be reused when creating body art.  Reusable tools such as stainless steel tubes are submerged in an ultrasonic which uses ultrasonic vibration to remove ink, blood and other matter which could contain viruses and bacteria. Next, each tube is scrubbed by hand to ensure that all matter is removed, and finally, each tube is individually bagged in a sterilization pouch and put through an autoclave cycle to sterilize them for the next client.
• Frequently clean surfaces and work areas.  Chairs, tables, work spaces and counters are disinfected between procedures to protect both the health of the client and the artist.  Cross-contamination (spreading bacteria and viruses from one surface to another) can occur if surfaces are not disinfected frequently and between clients.  Any disinfectant that claims to be able to eliminate the tuberculosis germ can also kill HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.  We always use a commercial disinfectant (following the manufacturer’s directions for that product) and we will also make use of 70% alcohol in certain situations as well.