The 19 things a licensing officer or inspector will actually ask about. Print it, walk your studio, and see where you stand — free, no email required.
This checklist is drawn from the statutory duties that apply to tattoo, piercing and beauty premises in England & Wales. Every item lists the legal driver — and where an item reflects a recognised standard or accepted practice rather than the letter of the law, it says so. Tick what you can evidence on paper: if you can't show the document or record, an inspector treats it as not done.
Current registration for the premises and each practitioner, displayed where required. Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1982 / local byelaws
Current certificate displayed or accessible if you employ anyone. Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
In date, covering the treatments you actually perform.
Up to date, including who to call and where isolation points are.
A full written record is now required for virtually all premises, reviewed whenever there's reason to think it's no longer valid — a refit, new equipment, an incident. An annual review is good practice rather than a statutory interval. Fire Safety Order 2005, art. 9 (as amended by the Building Safety Act 2022)
Suitable extinguishers are the legal duty; 12-monthly servicing by a competent person is the British Standard insurers and fire officers expect. RRFSO 2005 art. 13 / BS 5306-3 (standard)
Weekly testing and a log are British Standard practice rather than words in the Fire Safety Order — but an alarm with no test record is a finding waiting to happen. RRFSO 2005 art. 11 / BS 5839-1 (standard)
Inspected at intervals based on risk and the last report's recommendation — 5 years is the usual commercial interval, not a statutory one. Often held by the landlord; get a copy. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 / BS 7671
The legal duty is safe maintenance — "PAT testing" itself isn't named in law. User checks, visual inspection and risk-based testing of machines, clippers, lamps and kettles, with a record. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Serviced/validated in the last 12 months by a competent engineer. PSSR 2000 / PUWER 1998
Every sterilisation cycle recorded and reviewed monthly.
Inks, cleaners, disinfectants, sanitiser — assessed by product and kept under review: revisit when products or processes change (an annual check is good practice, not a statutory interval). COSHH Regulations 2002, reg 6
Biological-agent assessment separate from your chemical COSHH, kept under regular review — 6-monthly is good practice for exposure-prone work. COSHH 2002 (biological agents)
Recorded annually per artist — certificates on file.
Checked and recorded for every artist on joining.
Written assessment, stocked kit, named appointed person. Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981
Requalification every 3 years — check the certificate date.
GDPR-compliant accident records; know which incidents must be reported. RIDDOR 2013
For anyone regularly on a computer (bookings, admin). DSE Regulations 1992
Most studios we assess have 4–8 open items on this list. AB SiteSafe specialises in tattoo and beauty premises: bespoke COSHH assessments, risk assessments and the records behind every box above — from £75, 48-hour turnaround, and a real consultant you can phone.
Get a free 15-minute review COSHH for tattoo studios