32 What Is The Alliance Of Professional Tattooists?
Description
This article is from the Tattoo FAQ, by Stan Schwarz with numerous contributions by others.
32 What Is The Alliance Of Professional Tattooists?
This section was contributed by Pat Sinatra <patstats@aol.com>, a
professional tattoo artist and vice president of the organization:
The Alliance of Professional Tattooists (APT), Inc. is a professional
standards organization that was established in March 1992 and officially
incorporated in June '92 as a non-profit organization (contributions,
fees and educational materials are tax deductible.
Their activities:
-Continuing education to artists
-Offers accurate, up-to-date information about communicable diseases
through seminars
-Is interested in preserving tattooing as an artform
-Monitors legislative activity to prevent over-regulation (controlled
or banned)
-Believes in keeping the art of tattooing safe and legal through
education, knowledge and awareness
-Offers reliable information to tattoo lovers about safe tattoo
practices to ensure your health.
Headquartered in Maryland, its international membership has expanded
from the US to Canada, Europe and other countries. They are currently
establishing state chapters with state directors.
Their nine-hour seminar entitled, "Preventing Disease Transmission in
Tattooing," is taught by APT secretary, Dr. Kris Sperry (Fulton County
Medical Examiner, involved with tattooing for over 10 years). Designed
in 1988 to educate health care workers (including tattooists) in the
prevention of infection and the implementation of professional
standards,the program was specifically redesigned in 1991-1992 for the
needs of the tattooist and is the standard for APT members. Since the
1991 Bloodborne Pathogens Rule, APT, Inc. has designed this manual for
tattooists.
PDTT is presented in various locations throughout the country at a one
time fee of $125.00 (APT members) or $300.00 (non-members). This course
is open to the Professional and Associate levels only. Members are
required to complete this seminar within two years after initial
application.
While we have noted that many individuals are promoting videos on this
subject, OSHA (the US Occupational Safety & Health Association that
regulates work-environment safety) says that an infection control
program cannot be taught by video, but by an on-site knowledgable
individual on site.
OSHA believes that the in-person interaction between instructor and
student is vital to the education of this serious subject, and that
individual questions regarding infection control, universal precautions,
disease transmission, pathology, etc., must be answered by a
knowledgeable, credible instructor such as Dr. Sperry.
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