The state Well being Division has fined promoters of the Honolulu Tattoo Expo $120,000 for permitting 12 unlicensed tattoo artists to take part in its occasion.
The division mentioned Erin N. Carillo and Thomas H. Hernandez, promoters of the occasion held on Jan. 24 and 25 on the Hawaii Conference Middle, obtained the penalty for aiding and abetting the unlicensed artists.
On Jan. 24, state brokers noticed eight people, and on Jan. 25, 4 further people, apply the artwork of tattooing on the expo and not using a legitimate state license.
“The entire disregard for public well being guidelines positioned the general public at undue danger of contracting a bloodborne illness,” mentioned Peter Oshiro, the division’s meals security department program supervisor, in a information launch. “They positioned income above public well being. We hope this most superb sends a powerful message to tattoo expo operators that solely these individuals with a sound Hawaii state tattoo artist license might apply the occupation of tattooing in Hawaii.”
Hernandez mentioned he was caught off guard by the hefty fines, and felt there was a scarcity of communication from the well being division.
He acknowledges that on-site state inspectors had issued citations to some unlicensed tattoo artists on the expo, however that as quickly as he was knowledgeable of it, he responded accordingly by telling them to cease tattooing.
“All people that we requested to cease tattooing stopped tattooing,” mentioned Hernandez by telephone. “There have been well being inspectors throughout your entire occasion from starting to finish. Not one of the individuals bought a second quotation.”
Hernandez mentioned his group, Tattoo Tour of Los Angeles, has organized greater than 15 occasions, however that this was the primary one in Hawaii. He mentioned he plans to contest the penalty inside 20 days.
“We additionally personal a tattoo store,” he mentioned, “so we might by no means put the security of individuals’s well being above income.”
Below state law, any person who practices the artwork of tattooing must have a valid Hawaii tattoo license that exhibits they’re skilled on the prevention of bloodborne ailments.
To acquire the license, candidates should first attend a bloodborne pathogen transmission prevention class accepted by the Occupational Security and Well being Administration, and cross an examination to get a certificates. A number of programs can be found on-line for various charges.
Candidates submit the certificates, together with a tuberculosis and syphilis report kind and charge to get a state license.
The requirement, the division says, ensures tattoo artists have obtained formal course work in required aseptic strategies and practices to forestall the transmission of bloodborne ailments reminiscent of HIV, Hepatitis B, tetanus, and others, when tattooing.
Below state legislation, the division might impose fines of as much as $10,000 per violation, and has opted to challenge the utmost quantity, it mentioned, “because of the expo operators’ open disregard for Hawaii legal guidelines designed to guard public well being.”
The division emphasised that the Honolulu Tattoo Expo shouldn’t be affiliated in any manner with the annual Pacific Ink and Artwork Expo.
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