LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
According to one local health leader, the ink flowing out of an unsupervised tattoo operation is posing a danger to Paris.
Kim Ross, administrator of the Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD), brought the issue before members of the Edgar County Board during a Monday, Aug. 26 study session.
“We had some calls and complaints… about someone tattooing illegally out of a home,” Ross said.
Ross did not provide information regarding the identity of the tattoo artist or the location of the operation, since it is a private residence. She did explain that complaints were filed via phone and email near the beginning of July.
According to Ross, unmonitored tattoo or body art shops pose “a big hepatitis risk (and) bloodborne pathogens risk.”
Tattoo shops are subject to facility layout and construction mandates, mandatory training and certifications if they are to operate in good standing with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
After contacting the IDPH, Ross learned the agency plans to handle the matter.
“They (IDPH) are well aware of it. They are going to send a cease and desist letter,” Ross said.
Currently, the ECPHD’s hands are tied in enforcing health codes at body art shops. Ross is in the process of applying for the Body Art Establishment Inspection Grant Program, which provides certified health departments the authority and service grants necessary to “conduct regulatory inspections of body art establishments in the local jurisdiction or as assigned by the Department,” according to an Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance program listing.
Currently, the ECPHD is contracted to monitor tanning, food safety, water safety, and sewage as part of what Ross called a “local health protection grant.” Until the application for the body art program is approved, which will likely only happen at the start of the next fiscal year July 1, 2025, Ross and her department must rely on the IDPH for assistance.
“That is a state grant. The health department in Edgar, we do not take that grant, so we basically don’t do anything with tattoo(s),” Ross said. “We’re working on trying to acquire that from them because the state is really behind in getting inspections… They’ve been behind for several years in body art.”
While the IDPH has been quick to approve the opening of tattoo or body art establishments across the state, it has struggled to enforce cooperation with health codes from shops in violation of those codes, according to Ross.
“The state admitted to opening facilities, but… there’s no follow-up in that. So (shops like this) get opened, but they don’t get an annual compliance check whatsoever. So that’s kind of how things get missed,” she explained.
Should the ECPHD be accepted into the program and receive a contract from the state, the department’s environmental health division would be cleared to provide annual inspections for local shops.
“If Edgar had the contract from the state, which I’m working on, we would be there annually for a compliance safety check to make sure they have all their training and blood-borne pathogen certifications list, (to make sure) every station is legit, basically (to make sure) all their materials are safe, and that they’re sanitizing or they’re using disposable (equipment),” Ross told board members.
Until that happens, Ross is concerned that the state’s inaction may allow unsanctioned shops to continue operating until it’s too late. According to her, illegal body artists are sometimes only dealt with if a minor gets involved and is injured, which would draw a response from the Illinois State Police.
If a timely cease and desist is not issued, the ECPHD will not be able to step in unless they are accepted into the program.
“I have no jurisdiction… basically, there’s just no oversight, because it’s a home,” said Ross.
Ross encouraged locals looking for ink to take their business to trusted body art operations and ask questions about a shop’s certification.
“My best advice to community members is to go to a reputable body art facility for your services. Legal operators are proud of the hard work they have put into their shops and will be happy to show you their licenses and certifications,” Ross told a Prairie Press reporter after the meeting, adding. “Illegal operations and bad operators hurt the business for the good operators, it’s a shame.”
Ross plans to follow up with state contacts to ensure the illegal shop is dealt with and to continue checking the status of the ECPHD’s application for the Body Art Establishment Inspection Grant Program.
“Until we can pick up this program from the state, we will continue to refer complaints and issues to IDPH and assist with their direction,” Ross said.