As a professional tattoo studio, Flame Wise Ink prioritizes safety and requires every member of the team to complete a course on Bloodborne Pathogens by Worksite Safety and successfully pass an exam. Upon completion, each member will receive a certificate with their name and the date of completion.

Tattoo artists (tattooists) are at risk of coming into contact with their clients’ blood and potentially exposing themselves to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Exposure can occur at any stage of the tattoo process, from set-up to breakdown, and clean-up stages, and can result from needlesticks, contact with dried blood on equipment or surfaces, or blood splashes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that can be present in human blood and cause diseases in humans. This means that anyone who is involved in an accident or has close contact with someone who has an open sore can be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen.

Examples of bloodborne pathogens include:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks the immune system and can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the breakdown of the immune system. Symptoms of HIV may include weakness, fever, sore throat, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, and some forms of cancer. People can live with HIV for years before experiencing symptoms. Over 200 out of every 100,000 people in Canada are living with HIV.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV), the most common form of hepatitis, which is a liver disease that initially causes inflammation of the liver and frequently leads to more serious conditions, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Less than one percent of Canadians are infected with HBV, and about half of people infected do not develop any symptoms until their liver is already damaged.

It is crucial for tattoo artists to be knowledgeable about bloodborne pathogens and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of themselves, their clients, and their colleagues.