A tattoo parlour has become the first business of its kind in Rushcliffe to be registered with a countywide hygiene rating, achieving the top score of five stars. Vellum Tattoo in West Bridgford has joined The Hygiene Accreditation Scheme (HAS), a voluntary initiative put in place to improve and maintain hygiene and safety standards within premises offering tattooing, semi-permanent make-up and cosmetic body piercing treatments across Nottinghamshire.
Operated in a similar way to the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme for food outlets, businesses that sign up to the scheme are visited by Environmental Health Officers. A score is then generated on factors such as safety and cleanliness including hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the studio and the correct cleaning and sterilization of instruments.
The six-point system will then rate businesses from zero – urgent improvement required, to five – excellent. Customers can view which businesses have been inspected and rated by checking the window sticker in premises’ windows or by visiting https://bit.ly/2IcacmC.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Executive Manager for Neighbourhoods Dave Banks presented Jai Gilchrist, owner of Vellum Tattoo, with the window sticker that highlights their score.
He said: “It is great that Vellum has achieved a five star rating, giving customers further confidence that the business operates safely and meets high standards of safety and cleanliness. “Hygiene within the tattoo and body-piercing industry is of paramount importance, where poor practices can cause severe illness or permanent damage to customers.
“We would urge other businesses in Rushcliffe that offer similar services to join the scheme to give their customers peace of mind they too operate with high levels of hygiene standards and also give themselves a commercial advantage.”
Businesses participating in the scheme are required to follow rules devised using nationally recognised guidance, including the Guidance Toolkit produced by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Jai said: “Our customer’s safety is very important to us so we are delighted that we have achieved this accreditation with such a high rating.
“Customers can be even further assured that we operate in a clean and hygienic environment.”
The Scheme is being co-ordinated by Environmental Health teams within local authorities across the county who are responsible for the registration of tattoo, body piercing and beauty treatment businesses and is carried out in addition to routine inspections. Outlets can join the scheme for £120 for an initial inspection and gain a re-inspection and re-rating for £60 by visiting https://bit.ly/2IcacmC.