Eddy Glasner, owner of Chapel Rose Tattoos in Minersville, believes he knows what he is doing.
"I make sure I have barriers down, gloves. Everything is disposable, one use only. Done. Nobody comes in contact with anything from that person to the next customer," he said Monday.
However, he would not oppose state regulation to make sure his business is safe, provided it is a reasonable regulation.
If state Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-32, has his way, that regulation will be coming. The Allegheny lawmaker is sponsoring House Bill 2617, which would require parlors to be licensed and tattoo artists would have to take written examinations, along with other regulations.
"I find it difficult to understand how we regulate hair salons and nail salons but still do nothing to protect our citizens' health and safety when they get tattoos," DeLuca said. "Particularly when you consider tattoos involve invasive procedures using needles to inject pigments into a person's skin."
The only law regarding tattoos in Pennsylvania prohibits tattooing or body piercing anyone under 18 without a parent or guardian giving permission and being present when the tattoo is given.
DeLuca's bill would establish a registry where anyone who gives tattoos, body piercing or other corrective cosmetic services would have to register with the state. It also sets rules for the health of the tattoo artist.
Introduced Sept. 18, the bill was sent to the House Committee on Health although there haven't been any votes on it.
Glasner, 51, worked in South Carolina as a tattoo artist. A license was required there, he said, in addition to yearly courses on blood-borne pathogens.
"I think all businesses that deal with blood in general should have guidelines," he said.
Moreover, he said people sometimes get tattoos in less-than-ideal conditions that could be dangerous, such as hotels and homes, and legislation should address that.
Meanwhile, on Oct. 9, state Auditor General Jack Wagner weighed in on the issue and recommended state licensing, inspections of tattoo facilities, training for tattoo artists, certification of blood-borne pathogens, and first aid and CPR training, along with other suggestions.
Wagner said there are more than 750 known tattoo parlors and artists in Pennsylvania.
"We license cosmetologists, hair salons and nail salons. It's time we join the growing number of states that also regulate tattoo parlors," Wagner said.
Kait Gillis, deputy press secretary for the state Department of Health, said in an email that the department does not comment on pending legislation.
Shawn Gauvreau, owner of Needleplay Tattoo, Pottsville, agreed that some type of regulation is needed.
"I think it's a great thing. I think anything that's going to protect our customers and the consumer is a great thing," he said about attempts to regulate tattoo artists.
"It shouldn't be legal to tattoo someone out of your house," he said.
However, the bill must be first discussed in committee and it may wait a while.
"That bill will not be acted on this term," said state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125. "I think we need to weigh the health risks associated with tattoos. I'm not certain licensure for tattoo parlors is the way to go at this time."
State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, said he did not have an opinion on the bill but "I think it's certainly worth to listen to hear more about. We're dealing with needles here."
According to the website, www.statisticbrain.com, 14 percent of Americans have tattoos.
There are 21,000 tattoo parlors in the United States.