Beauty & Body Art Safety

Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Personal Services Settings

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Courtesy of Channel 12
Dan Carter Productions

The Durham Region Health Department is mandated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to conduct inspections of personal services settings in Durham Region. These services include tattooing, body and ear piercing, electrolysis, micropigmentation, acupuncture, manicures, pedicures, hairdressing/barbering, waxing, facials, tanning and relaxation massages.

The MOHLTC Personal Services Settings Best Practices outlines the minimum standards for cleaning, sanitation and basic infection control practices to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and AIDS and other types of infection for both clients and PSWs during the delivery of personal services. The Best Practices document applies to any services/settings (including special events) where there is a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids.

Some personal services settings (PSS) in Durham Region have advertised that they are "Health Department Approved". Durham Region Health Department does NOT provide approval, certification or licensing to ANY personal services setting. Inspections are conducted but APPROVALS, CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENCES ARE NOT ISSUED by the Durham Region Health Department. (Note: Municipalities may issue business licences)

In addition, there may be personal services settings that may operate, in homes or other locations, which have never been inspected by the Health Department. To ensure that you are receiving service from a Health Department inspected premise, ask the business owner/operator to show you their last Durham Region Health Department PSS Inspection Report.

The Durham Region Health Department will also provide information to the public and respond to complaints regarding these services/settings. For information on the most recent inspection report for a particular establishment, please call our Environmental Help Line at 1-888-777-9613.