Personal appearance services (PAS)
Ear piercing
Fact sheet for operators
This fact sheet is designed as a guidance tool only to provide relevant health information regarding the hygienic
provision of ear piercing. For more detailed information, see the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal
Appearance Services) Act 2003 and the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services 2004.
1. Introduction
The Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 categorises closed ear piercing as a
non-higher risk personal appearance service and therefore does not generally require a licence from Council. However,
some Councils may require licensing of non-higher risk services under a Local Law. Unsafe or unhygienic procedures
may affect the health of both the client and the operator. Ear piercers must follow correct hygiene practices to prevent
bacterial, fungal and viral infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
If your business is conducting any other activities which are not defined above, such as body piercing, please contact
Council for details on licensing requirements for higher risk personal appearance services.
2. Premises
To enable implementation of infection control practices, the following structural items are required:
 basin with clean cold running water for hand washing (hot water is optional)
 separate single bowl sink with clean running water for instrument cleaning
 floors, floor coverings, walls, ceilings, shelves, fittings and other furniture constructed of suitable materials to enable
easy cleaning and maintenance.
3. Personal hygiene
Handwashing is the most important measure in preventing the spread of infection. Ear piercers must wash their hands:
 before and after each client
 before putting on and after removing gloves
 before contact with instruments that penetrate the skin
 after contact with blood or other body substances
 after contact with used instruments and jewellery
 after eating, smoking, going to the toilet
 whenever hands are visibly soiled
 in any other circumstance when infection risks are apparent.
Operators must not smoke while attending to a customer
New disposable gloves must be worn for each client. Sterile gloves should be worn when handling sterile instruments
or jewellery.
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Ear piercing
Fact sheet for operators
4. Equipment
Operators should use ear piercing devices that minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
Ear piercing guns
Guns that are designed with disposable cartridges are recommended. This type of gun uses cartridges containing presterilised studs, clasps, clasp retainers and stud adapters. The cartridge is disposed of immediately after use.
The spring-loaded ear piercing gun is designed only for ear piercing (ear piercing studs and clasps must not be used
anywhere on the body other than the outer perimeter and lobe of the ear).
Piercing guns must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.
5. Procedures
When performing closed ear piercing:
 open packages containing sterile instruments in front of the client
 avoid skin contact with instruments
 insert sterile single-use disposable capsules, containing the stud and butterfly, into the gun
 mark the site to be pierced before disinfecting the skin
 prepare client’s skin by swabbing with an antiseptic solution.
Do not re-use jewellery or fittings on another person unless it has first been sterilised.
Pre-sterilised jewellery accidentally touched before insertion must be resterilised before use or discarded.
Stud packets that are not sealed and intact must not be used.
Closed piercing instruments must only be used for their designed purpose and not for other parts of the body, as per
manufacturer’s instructions. Keep the manufacturer’s written instructions on the premises where the instrument is used.
6. Post-treatment
After ear piercing:
 place used single-use disposable items, eg clasps and gloves, in a waste container
 clean the gun with detergent and water to remove any contaminants before re-use on another client
 sterilise re-usable equipment in accordance with Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services
2004
 clean the immediate working area in which the procedure was performed
 store ear piercing guns in a clean and hygienic manner
 provide your client with after-care information to avoid infection, including:
- cleaning of site and jewellery
- infections and what to look for
- general care instructions
- healing times
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