Studio Policies & Procedures

Below are the basic policies of the Axiom. As a business owner, a responsible employer & Piercing Artist, I feel that these should not be a special case and that all piercees should receive the care and consideration outlined below. It's a simply way of doing business, do it right, care for your client's health and well being. If you have any question or comments regarding these, have had a problem at the Axiom in the past or would simply like to make a suggestion feel free to contact me at davo@axiompiercing.com.

1. Education requirements for piercers is as follows:
   
   
   
   1. No employee may preform or practise a piercings without
      supervision that has not completed a year or more of a formal apprenticeship
      outside an Axiom Inc. owned studio. Then and only then if the piercer provides
      a signed testament from a studio in good standing that the apprenticeship has
      been completed.
   
   
   2. No Employee or apprentice shall preform or practice a piercing
      without supervision until they have preformed that piercing correctly under
      supervision at least ten times.
   
   
   3. All employees must have a current Red Cross First Aid/CPR
      certification and must be renewed annually.
   
   
   4. Annually piercers must complete correctly an exam covering
      sterilization, disinfection and cross contamination prevention methods.
   
   


2. Employee cleaning responsibilities:
   
   
   
   1. All floors are to be mopped or vacuumed daily.
   
   
   2. Bathroom fixtures are to disinfected daily.
   
   
   3. All surfaces are to be disinfected daily or as needed.
   
   
   4. All commonly touched items (light switches, door knobs, phones
      & etc....) are to be disinfected daily.
   
   
   5. All trash that is not contaminated is to be removed from the
      studio daily, especially food items.
   
   


3. Employee's hygiene:
   
   
   
   1. All employees must wear clean & appropriate attire.
   
   
   2. All employees must wash their hands with an antibacterial soap
      & warm running water when ever:
      
      
      
      1. Using the restroom.
      
      
      2. Before & after handling contaminated items (this includes
         handling items with gloves).
      
      
      3. Before entering & after leaving then piercing area.
      
      
      4. Before handling sterile packages and/or items.
      
      
      5. Before entering or leaving the sterilization area.
      
      
   
   


4. Gloves:
   
   
   
   1. Gloves are to be worn:
      
      
      
      1. During piercings & changed when ever there is a chance of
         the gloves causing cross contamination.
      
      
      2. When ever handling or cleaning contaminated items.
      
      
      3. When ever changing jewelry or handling sterile items.
      
      
   
   
   2. Gloves are to be removed and replaced with a new pair:
      
      
      
      1. At least once during the piercing procedure. One pair for set
         up, disinfecting the area and making the piercing. A second pair for the
         piercing procedures and a third if needed for clean up.
      
      
      2. When ever touching any surface other then the piercing set up
         area.
      
      
   
   
   3. Gloves are not to be re-used in any situation.
   
   


5. No smoking, eating and/or drinking in the piercing area and/or
   sterilization area.


6. Controlled & uncontrolled substances:
   
   
   
   1. The uses of any controlled or uncontrolled substance in or around
      the studio during normal business hours is prohibited.
   
   
   2. No employee is to be under the influence of any controlled or
      uncontrolled substance during working hours.
   
   
   3. Piercing anyone while under the influence is prohibited.
   
   
   4. Any employee that is found under the influence during his/her
      working hours will be terminated without notice & will forfeit any and all
      wages or monies owed and/or apprentice fees that have been paid.
   
   


7. The uses of ear piercing guns, devices and/or machine is
   prohibited.


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


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


10. Disinfection:
    
    
    
    1. Surfaces, commonly touched items are to be disinfected using a
       bleach based cleaner.
    
    
    2. Re-usable contaminated items are to disinfected before being
       packaged and autoclaved.
       
       
       
       1. Soaked in a hard surface cleaner for at least 20
          minutes.
       
       
       2. Rinse under warm running water.
       
       
       3. Blood, tissue & micro-organisms are to be removed by
          using one of the following methods:
          
          
          
          1. Placing items in an ultra sonic tank for a minimum of 20
             minutes.
          
          
          2. Scrubbed using a brush, hibiciens & warm water with
             at least 60 seconds of friction.
          
          
       
       
       4. Rinse under running warm water.
       
       
       5. Allowed to dry in an air tight container.
       
       
    
    
    3. The piercing set up area is to be disinfected with a hard surface
       cleaner before & after piercing, jewelry changes other procedures or cases
       of contamination.
    
    
    4. The Hard surface cleaner is to be of an active dildehyde type
       & to be changed at the end of active cycle.
    
    


11. Contaminator items are to be disposed of using a well marked
    biohazard container and a licensed medical waste disposal contractor.


12. All piercees are to receive a consultation before & during
    filling out the release form that covers the following:
    
    
    
    1. The minimum healing time for the first and second stages of
       healing.
    
    
    2. Risks or hazards involved in getting and healing the
       piercing.
    
    
    3. Basic care and cleaning instructions
    
    
    4. Normal reactions experienced during/after the piercing &
       during the healing period.
    
    
    5. Any and all changes that will need to be taken involving personal
       habits, clothing and diet. Also, any steps that will need to be taken to
       prevent problems during the healing and after.
    
    
    6. A discussion for the piercee's health and medical conditions that
       maybe effected and/or cause complications during and/or after the piercing
       procedure.
    
    
    7. 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.
    
    
    8. If the piercee is under the age of 25 years of age, they are to
       ID the piercee to determine if they are above the age of 18 years of age. If
       the piercee is a minor then documentation is to be reviewed.
    
    


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


14. Jewelry:
    
    
    
    1. All Jewelry is new and has never been worn.
    
    
    2. All Jewelry must be packaged & autoclaved before sale.
    
    
    3. All Jewelry is to be inspected and found to be free of defects
       before packaging and autoclaving.
    
    
    4. All Jewelry must be made of the following metal and/or material:
       
       
       
       1. Solid 316L or 316LVM or better implant grade stainless
          surgical steel. ASTM-F138-86
       
       
       2. Solid implant grade niobium. ASTM-B392
       
       
       3. Solid implant grade titanium 614v. ASTM-F136 also known as
          titanium 6/4.
       
       
       4. Solid 14kt or better gold.
       
       
       5. If jewelry is being place in a healed piercing than plastic,
          lucite, sliver and/or organic materials maybe used.
       
       
    
    
    5. Used jewelry may never be resold but if the piercee/client brings
       in a piece of jewelry it can be used and/or inserted after it has been
       disinfected and sterilized in the proper manner.