A weekend convention with a focus on tattoos will not be affected by any new health regulations since the tattoo and body piercing ordinance proposed by the Allen County Board of Health is still in the discussion stage.
About 10 tattoo artists, including Jayson Love, event coordinator for the Phunk-N-Ink Tattoo and Music Festival, attended Monday’s board of health meeting to offer input on the proposed ordinance.
Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan wants a provision that prohibits certain body modifications, such as tongue splitting, branding or suspension – the process of inserting large hooks under the skin and suspending or hanging the person in the air on a chain or cable that is connected to the hooks.
“We need to specifically address body modification,” McMahon said. “This is a very dangerous precedent. It is a medical procedure and should be regulated as such.”Love said the extreme procedures should not be eliminated, but measures should be taken to ensure the procedures are done safely.
“These people have been doing this for years and they are professionals,” Love said. Don Corah, a tattoo professional with 29 years of experience, is the owner of Artisan Tattoo Co., with two locations in Fort Wayne. He is a member of the National Tattoo Association and serves on the board of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists.
Corah said the suspension acts are done as entertainment. “I will step back from suspension, although I understand it is entertainment,” Corah said. “I don’t believe it falls under body piercing or tattooing, which is what we do.”Corah is in favor of more regulation in tattooing and body piercing industry.
“Members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists are required to have 1,200 to 1,500 hours of training and then serve an apprenticeship,” Corah said. McMahan agreed that required training would be an improvement. “Tattooists are required to have six months training in Nevada,” McMahan said, “while in Indiana there is no requirement at all. Anyone can go buy the equipment and set up a tattoo shop in their home.”
McMahon suggested that the county require some type of standards or certification that would include medical training and education in such areas as hepatitis, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, Type II diabetes and other skin and blood diseases.
Board member Laura Maser said the state has a weak law on tattooing and body piercing. But, she said, the county can establish its own regulations as long as the rules do not directly contradict the state’s mandate or do not “frustrate the purpose” of state law. Jeff Stumpp, owner of Device Tattoo, told board members that more young people than ever are getting body piercings and tattoos.
“It’s here to stay and it is growing rapidly,” Stumpp said. “But anyone can get a permit. You need some control, and you may need to look at capping the number of studios.”In 2005, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health issued 52 permits to tattoo artists along with 15 licenses for tattoo and body-piercing establishments.
In 2008, the local health department issued 123 tattoo-artist permits and 37 shop licenses. In response to the growth in the industry, the health department updated the county ordinance regulating tattoos in 2001 and again in 2008.The health department inspects licensed tattoo shops twice a year.
Love said he has been satisfied with the open line of communication between the health board and the area tattoo and body piercing professionals. “I think they are going in the right direction,” Love said, “and I agree with the majority of what they are trying to do.”The board will revisit the proposed ordinance at its June meeting.