Tattoo Shop Health & Safety Checklist for Inspections

Health inspections rarely fail a shop on tattooing technique. They fail shops on records, surfaces, and waste.

Run this before your inspection date, not on it.

Sterilisation

• Autoclave serviced within the last 12 months, certificate on file
• Spore tests run at the required interval, logs kept and dated
• Single-use needles and tubes only, disposed of in a sharps container
• Sterile pouches marked with an indicator and a date

Station and surfaces

• Non-porous, cleanable work surfaces and chairs — no fabric
• Barrier film on machines, clip cords, bottles, lamps and armrests
• Separate clean and dirty zones with no crossover traffic
• Hand-wash sink in the procedure area with soap and single-use towels

Records

• Signed consent and medical screening for every client
• Age verification / ID check recorded
• Artist bloodborne pathogens certificates, current
• Aftercare instructions issued in writing and logged

Paper works until someone asks for a specific form quickly. Keeping consents, screening answers, and aftercare records against the client's session makes the records half of an inspection a two-minute search rather than an afternoon in a filing cabinet — see tattoo client management.

Waste and chemicals

• Sharps containers under the fill line, collected on a contract
• Biohazard bags for contaminated waste
• Disinfectant with a documented contact time, actually observed
• Safety data sheets available for every chemical on site

Signage and space

• Licence and permits displayed
• No food, drink, or animals in the procedure area
• Adequate lighting and ventilation
• A private area available for intimate placements

After you pass

Keep the logs current between visits — the shops that scramble are the ones that only run the checklist once a year. If you're still opening, work through the state guides first; requirements vary a lot by county.