Below are the basic policies of the Axiom. As a business owner, a responsible employer, and a piercing artist, I believe that these should not be exceptional cases and that all clients should receive the care and consideration outlined below. It's a simple way of doing business, involving doing it right and caring about your client's health and well-being. If you have any questions or comments regarding these, have had a problem at the Axiom in the past, or would like to make a suggestion, feel free to contact me at davo@axiompiercing.com.

Education requirements for piercers are as follows:

• No employee may perform or practice piercings without supervision that has not:
  • Completed at least 10 of each of those piercings correctly under the supervision of DaVo
  • Has completed two years or more of a formal apprenticeship in another studio.
• Annually, piercers must pass an exam that covers sterilization, disinfection, and methods for preventing cross-contamination.

Employee cleaning responsibilities:

• All floors are to be mopped or vacuumed daily.
• Bathroom fixtures are to be disinfected daily.
• All surfaces are to be disinfected daily or as needed.
• All commonly touched items (light switches, doorknobs, phones, etc) are to be disinfected daily.
• All non-contaminated trash is to be removed from the studio daily, especially food items.

Employee's hygiene:

• All employees must wear clean & appropriate attire.
• All employees must wash their hands with an antibacterial soap & warm running water whenever:
• Using the restroom.
• Before and after handling contaminated items (including handling items with gloves).
• Before entering & after leaving the piercing area.
• Before handling sterile packages and/or items.
• Before entering or leaving the sterilization area.

Gloves:

• Gloves are to be worn and changed:
  • During piercings & changes, whenever there is a chance of the gloves causing cross-contamination.
  • Whenever handling or cleaning contaminated items.
  • Whenever changing jewelry or handling sterile items.
  • Gloves are to be removed and replaced with a new pair whenever touching any surface other than the piercing set-up area or when there is a chance of cross-contamination.
  • Gloves are not to be reused in any situation.

Controlled & uncontrolled substances:

• The use of any controlled or uncontrolled substance in or around the studio during normal business hours is prohibited.
• No employee is to be under the influence of any controlled or uncontrolled substance during working hours.
• Piercing anyone while under the influence is prohibited.
• Any employee who is found under the influence during his/her working hours will be terminated without notice & will forfeit any wages or monies owed and/or apprentice fees that have been paid.

Ear Piercing Device / Ear Piercing Guns

The use of ear piercing guns, devices, and/or machines is prohibited.

Minors:

• Minors shall not be pierced without one of the following forms of consent:
  • A legal guardian is present and signs a consent form.
  • A notarized letter of consent signed by the minor's legal guardian.

Sterilization:

• The following items are to be packaged, autoclaved & stored properly until needed:
  • Singles use items such as needles, cork, all jewelry, and cotton-tipped applicators.
  • Re-usable items: all forceps, needle receiving tubes, taper pins, tools & calipers.
• Autoclave cleaning and maintenance must be done weekly or as needed.
• At least 12 times a year, an independent spore test is to be conducted.
• The following items are to be purchased as single-use, single-wrapped & sterile: gauze, surgical scrub swabs, or pads.

Disinfection:

• Surfaces and commonly touched items should be disinfected using a bleach-based cleaner or a hospital-grade cleaner.
• Reusable contaminated items are to be disinfected before being packaged and autoclaved as follows:
  • Soaked in a hard surface cleaner for at least 60 minutes.
  • Rinse under warm running water.
  • Blood, tissue & micro-organisms are to be removed by using one of the following methods:
    • Placing items in an ultrasonic tank for a minimum of 20 minutes, or scrubbing them using a brush with Hibiclens and warm water, with at least 60 seconds of friction.
    • Rinse under running warm water.
    • Allowed to dry in an air-tight container.
• The piercing setup area must be disinfected with a hard surface cleaner before and after piercing, jewelry changes, other procedures, or in cases of contamination.
• The Hard surface cleaner is to be of an active dialdehyde type & to be changed at the end of the active cycle.

Contaminated Items

• Contaminated items are to be disposed of using a well-marked biohazard container and a licensed medical waste disposal contractor.

Piercee Consultation

• All piercees are to receive a consultation before & during filling out the release form that covers the following:
  • The minimum healing time for the first and second stages of healing.
  • Risks or hazards involved in getting and healing the piercing.
  • Basic care and cleaning instructions
  • Normal reactions experienced during/after the piercing & during the healing period.
  • All changes that will need to be taken involve personal habits, clothing, and diet. Additionally, any steps that need to be taken to prevent problems during the healing process and afterward.
  • A discussion for the piercee's health and medical conditions that may be affected and/or cause complications during and/or after the piercing procedure.
  • What and/or any medications, controlled and/or uncontrolled substances, the piercee is under the influence of, and what reaction and/or problems may arise during and/or after the piercing procedure.
• Age/Minors:
  • If the piercee is under 25 years of age, they are to ID the piercee to determine if they are above 18 years of age.
  • If the piercee is a minor (under the age of 18), then the documentation must be reviewed and verified.

Employee conduct:

• All employees must professionally conduct themselves.
• Any of the following actions are grounds for termination of employment, sub-contract, or apprenticeship with the forfeiture of wages due and/or any apprenticeship fees collected:
  • Any comments, actions, and/or forms of statements are considered not to be in accordance with any federal and/or state statutes
  • Regarding civil rights, discrimination of any kind based on creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, race, and/or sexual orientation.
  • Sexual, physical, and/or verbal harassment of a client, fellow employee,/or the general public.
  • Misrepresenting themselves and/or their abilities in any way.
  • Committing, being involved with, and/or being convicted of criminal activity during and/or after business hours while employed or contracted in any way by the Axiom.
  • Employees have the right to refuse service to anyone if just cause can be shown.

Jewelry:

• All Jewelry is new and has never been worn.
• All Jewelry is to be inspected and found to be free of defects before packaging and autoclaving.
• All Jewelry must be made of the following metal and/or material:
  • Solid 316L or 316LVM or better implant grade stainless surgical steel. ASTM-F138-86
  • Solid implant-grade niobium. ASTM-B392
  • Solid implant grade titanium 614v. ASTM-F136, also known as titanium 6/4.
  • Solid 14kt or better gold.
  • Glass
• Used jewelry may never be resold, but if the piercer or client brings in a piece of jewelry, it can be used and/or inserted after it has been properly disinfected and sterilized.
• There is no charge to change or insert jewelry. 

DaVo and the Axiom Body Piercing Studio will pierce minors with the consent of a legal guardian. No Iowa State or local law prohibits or regulates the piercing of minors. However, for ethical reasons, we will not pierce minors without consent. Other than the belief that it is ethically wrong, there is the issue of liability. Since a minor is not legally responsible for their action, signing a release form has no legal bearing. Meaning that if the guardian has issues with the minor being pierced, something happens during the piercing procedure or the healing, the Axiom and DaVo could be held liable. This puts into question why any professional and ethical piercer would consider piercing a minor without consent. Also, there is no legal difference between a minor who is over the age of 16 and one who is under 16.

We require one of the following to pierce anyone under the age of 18:

• A parent is present to sign a consent form. If the minor has a court-appointed guardian, we require a photocopy of the court order.
• Suppose the parent or legal guardian can not be present at the time of the piercing. They can stop by, fill out, and sign the consent form in advance.  
• If the parent or legal guardian cannot be present at the time of the piercing or stop by to fill out and sign the consent form in advance, we require a notarized letter of consent. Meaning that the guardian writes a letter to consent the minor to be pierced and then signs in the presence of a Notary. Thus providing third-party verification that the minor's guardian gave consent. For a download of a suggested consent form, go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GutC05GJxoXhzhFgCi5itWXnzzRpaTN9F4ahMLbB0Ec/pub
• If the minor has been emancipated, we require a photocopy of the emancipation proclamation. 

For those with infants, toddlers, and preteens, there are several reasons why the Axiom and DaVo refuse to pierce them and strongly suggest waiting until the child is much older. For more information, go to my blog on the subject - Piercing Infants and Small Children

I would also suggest minors considering a piercing and parents considering having their child pierced, read my blog on the subject -  I will pierce minors but .... a parent and child guide.