Alberta’s Health and Wellness’ Health Standards and Guidelines for Body and Ear Piercing haven’t been updated since 2002 and some piercers think it might be time for a change.
“It’s a guideline when they really need to step in and make it a standard,” says Keith Kennedy, a piercer at Tribal Expressions, a well-known piercing studio.
Kennedy has more than 20 years of experience and oversees all piercings done at the studio.
He said he would like to see the guidelines turned into regulations.
Calgary’s Zone Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jason Cabaj said currently “there is no requirement for Alberta Health Services to get involved in the initial approval for facilities.”
Piercing studios are expected to meet the requirements set out in Alberta’s Public Health Act, the Personal Services Regulation, and the five related Health Standards and Guidelines.
The Personal Services Regulation expires in November of 2019 but there is no expiry for the Health Standards and Guidelines for Body and Ear Piercing.
“Alberta Health Services does inspections based on complaints and past history,” said Cabaj.
He suggested that people wanting to get pierced should look into the place they choose to perform the work.
“People may want to ask to see the last inspection report,” said Cabaj.
“If [the studio] has it, the public can be assured it’s a safe procedure.”
As for changing the standards, Cabaj said the process for updating the standards can take some time.
“I understand there are some discussions happening at the ministry level.”
The current guidelines and standards in Alberta don’t have age requirements and allow the use of a piercing gun.
Deanna Mae, another piercer at Tribal Expressions, said she’d like to see the elimination of the piercing gun.
“We get endless people that come in with problems,” said Mae.
She would like to see piercing studios refuse to pierce with anything that didn’t come from the shop.
Tribal Expressions, which manufactures some of its own jewelry and created an MRI safe dermal anchor, only allows the insertion of jewelry purchased at the studio so piercers know the content of the jewelry and know it will be body safe.
However, some studios allow customers to bring in their own jewelry and get pierced with it
Kennedy said Alberta Health and Wellness should make regulations that ensure jewelry is made of implant grade material and denote the material content.
“It will prevent all the little problems we see and pay for as taxpayers.”
Anyone with a severe infection or complication to their piercing is advised to go to a doctor.
Unfortunately, doctors aren’t always knowledgeable about the removal of dermal anchors.
It will prevent all the little problems we see and pay for as taxpayers. – Keith Kennedy.
As well, some MRI technicians are not trained in taking out piercings, said Kennedy.
He said he wanted to offer free training to MRI technicians on the removal of dermal anchors.
If you would like to know if your piercing shop has been inspected, you can call Environmental Public Health at 403-943-2288.
