Masks

1910.1030(d)(3)(x)
"Masks, Eye Protection, and Face Shields. Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially inectious materials may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonable anticipated."

• "Surgical mask...were not designed or approved...as respiratory protective devices." Summary OpCit p.51

• "...respirators are not recommended for protection against bloodborne disease because there is no evidence that bloodborne pathogens can be or have been transmitted in the healthcare workplace by the respiratory route." p.51

• "Assuming a 'worst case' of a single virion infectivity and knowing the capability of minute aeosols to remain suspended in air and therefore spread widely throught the facility, respiratory protection would be necessary for essentially every person within the facility. However, if such a situation were true, the Agency would expect seroconversion rates to be drastically increase among those exposed; but this does not appear to be the case."Summary, p.52"

• "OSHA is not aware of specific engineering controls and work practices that are currently available to address control of aerosols." p.51

• ...the Agency (OSHA) lacks sufficient information in some important areas which it feels must be obtained before it can require employers to control exposures to aerosols...CDC and NIOSH...are unaware of research indicating viability of these viruses (HIV and HBV) in aerosols."

During Tattoo and Piercing, eye, nose and mouth contamination would not be  "reasonably anticipated" from splashes, spray, spatter or droplets of blood. Therefore,  the use of masks, eye protection and face shields would not be appropriate to the task being performed.