The Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 places obligations on all personal appearance services to minimise infection risks to clients. Personal appearance services are divided into two categories - higher risk and non-higher risk.

Infection Control Guidelines have been produced for businesses and outline ways in which to minimise infection risks to clients. Operators and staff of both categories of personal appearance services are required to take all reasonable precautions and care to minimise the risk of infection to your clients.

For more information please refer to the Queensland Health website.

Non-higher risk personal appearance service

A non-higher risk personal appearance service means a personal appearance service involving any of the following procedures.  These types of procedures do not require to be licensed however the Infection Control Guidelines still apply.

• hairdressing
• beauty therapy e.g. waxing, nail treatments; or
• skin penetration procedure that is not a higher risk personal appearance service eg. closed ear or nose piercing.

Higher risk personal appearance service

A higher risk personal appearance service means a personal appearance service involving any of the following skin penetration procedures in which the release of blood or other bodily fluid is an expected result.  You are legally required to apply for a licence with Council prior to the operation of a business offering these services.

• Body piercing, other than closed ear or nose piercing
• Implanting natural or synthetic substances into a person's skin, including, for example, hair or beads
• Scarring or cutting a person's skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark, pattern or design
• Tattooing
• Another skin penetration procedure prescribed under a regulation – includes some tattoo removal

Businesses which provide higher risk personal appearance services must hold a licence under the Act and only provide services from the premises stated on this licence.

Qualification

People who provide the higher risk personal appearance service must complete minimum training requirements before they can carry out any procedures on a client.  The current standard is Infection Control Competency HLTINF005 – Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments.

Previous competencies are also recognised, these are listed in the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Regulation 2003.

Other Council Approvals

Fitting out a new or making changes to an existing premise providing higher risk personal appearance service may require approval from Council’s Town Planning, Building, Plumbing and/or Trade Waste sections. You are required to make separate enquiries in relation to these areas. The information on this page is only in relation to the activities delegated to the Environment and Health section.

Making an Application

The premises are also required to be approved by Council’s Environmental Health Officers, prior to the licence being issued.  Plans are to be submitted for Approval.  Conditional approval will be given by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) – it is recommended you do not begin fitting out the premise until conditional approval is received in the event the EHO requires changes to be made to meet compliance with the legislation.

The fit-out of the premises is to comply with the Queensland Development Code, MP 5.2 and the Infection Control Guidelines.

Once the plans are approved and construction is nearing completion, the Licence to provide Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Application in the related documents section below is to be completed and submitted to Council together with the relevant fee and the certificate for the hygiene competency. 

The licence will be approved once a final inspection has been undertaken and all relevant certificates have been provided.

The business is not to open until the licence has been issued by Council.

Further information including a booklet ‘What business need to know’ is available from the Queensland Health website.

Licence Renewal

The licence will expire on 30 June each year, Council will issue a renewal notice 1 month prior to the expiry.

Buying an existing business

Council recommends prospective purchasers of a business licensed to undertake higher risk personal appearance services, apply for a Health Inspection, fees apply, prior to settlement. This allows an Environmental Health Officer to inspect the premises to identify any potential issues.  The current approval holder is also required to approve the application.

Transfer of Licence 

When there is a change in the operator, an application may be made to transfer the licence to the new operator, fees apply. Please use Transfer of Licence - Higher Risk Personal Appearance Service Application form in the related documents section below.