For further reference on the cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of used items, see AS/NZS 4815:2001 Office-based, health-care facilities not involved in complex patient procedures and processes – Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment, and maintenance of the associated environment. It provides clear instructions for all steps in the processing of reusable high, intermediate and low risk instruments.
For body art, it is important to keep accurate records of every body piercing and procedure for each client. Accurate and detailed records are valuable to the body artist if there is any infection or possibility of a blood-borne virus transmission with the client.
High risk beauty therapy equipment
After each client, clean and disinfect, or dispose of these items, as per the following advice.
High risk
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Reusable instruments
Tattoo guns
|
Skin infections
Spreading blood-borne viruses (BBVs)
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth.
Package with chemical indicator and seal.
Sterilise.
|
|
Single use needles
|
Skin infections
Spreading blood-borne viruses (BBVs) |
Dispose of into sharps container.
|
|
Tweezers, probes, scissors, any other reusable instruments
|
Skin infections
Spreading blood-borne viruses (BBVs) |
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth.
Sterilise if contaminated. |
|
Single-use razors
|
Skin infections
Spreading blood-borne viruses (BBVs) |
Dispose of it into sharps container.
|
|
Single-use rubber bands
|
Skin infections
Spreading blood-borne viruses (BBVs) |
Dispose of it into a clinical waste container.
|
Intermediate risk beauty therapy equipment
After each client, clean and disinfect, or dispose of these items, as per the following advice.
Intermediate risk
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Face brushes
Face sponges
Shaving brushes
|
Skin infection if previous client has skin lesions or infection.
|
Rinse free of lotions, creams and make-up.
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry thoroughly.
|
|
Equipment that is not immersible:
Tattoo guns
Electrical items
Reusable stimulator electrodes
|
Infection
|
Wipe over with cloth dampened in warm water and detergent.
Rinse by wiping with cloth dampened in hot water.
Dry thoroughly.
Wipe over with cloth dampened with 70 per cent alcohol solution and allow to dry.
|
Low risk beauty therapy equipment
After each client, clean and disinfect, or dispose of these items, as per the following advice.
Low risk
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Nail clippers/scissors
Cuticle sticks
Nail burrs
Nail files |
Potential for infection
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth.
Dispose of or sterilise if contaminated. |
|
Single use skin markers
Cotton thread (for threading) |
Skin infection
|
Dispose into clinical waste.
|
|
Eyelash curlers
Nail brushes
Nail buffers
Emery boards |
Infection
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth.
Dispose of or sterilise if contaminated. |
|
Foot baths
|
Contamination
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth.
Use chlorine –based disinfectant (bleach) to disinfect, rinse in hot water and dry with lint free cloth. |
|
Dye mixing bowls
|
Contamination
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry thoroughly with lint free cloth before refilling. |
|
Wax thermometers
Wax pots
Reusable wax applicators
Saucepans |
Skin infections
Spreading blood borne viruses (BBVs) |
Remove wax using appropriate solvent for the type of wax.
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry with lint free cloth. |
|
Nail varnish brushes
|
Contamination
|
Wash in hot water (70-80ºC) and detergent.
Dry in open air or in clothes dryer on hot setting.
Dry as required by type of material. |
|
Linen
Towels
- Gowns and capes
- Hair covers
- Hair bands
- Other
|
Infection
|
Wash in hot water (70-80ºC) and detergent.
Dry in open air or in clothes dryer on hot setting.
Dry as required by type of material. |
|
Client couch/chair
|
Contamination
dust accumulating |
Wash with warm water and detergent.
Dry thoroughly with lint free cloth. |
After each use, dispose of these items as per the following advice.
Disposal
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Single use applicators
|
Infection
|
Dispose of into sterile container.
|
When empty, clean and disinfect these items as per the following advice.
Before refilling
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Bottles/sprays/pump dispensers
- Liquid soap
- Water
- Lotions
- Creams
- Gels
|
Potential for contamination
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry thoroughly with lint free cloth before refilling.
|
Each week, clean these items as per the following advice.
Weekly cleaning
| Equipment |
Potential health risk |
Actions required |
|
Equipment trolley or tray
|
Dust accumulating and contaminating clean equipment
|
Wash in warm water and detergent.
Rinse in hot running water.
Dry thoroughly with lint free cloth before refilling.
|
Produced by
Environmental Health Directorate