Personal Services Settings

View inspection results for Personal Services Settings

As part of its mandate under the Ontario Public Health Standards, 2018 and the Infection Prevention and Control Protocol, 2018, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) inspects Personal Services Settings (PSS) to monitor infection prevention and control practices. Our objective is to minimize the risk of blood-borne/other types of infections during the delivery of personal services. PSS refer to settings in which aesthetic services are delivered, such as but not limited to:

  • Manicures & Pedicures
  • Body piercing & ear lobe piercing
  • Make-up application
  • Aesthetics (waxing or facials)
  • Hairstyling & Barbering
  • Tattooing & Micro-blading
  • Tanning
  • Body modification (branding, scarification etc.)
  • Electrolysis & Laser hair removal
  • Microdermabrasion

Public health inspectors (PHIs) at Ottawa Public Health (OPH) routinely inspect these establishments to ensure that owners and operators operate their business in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Ontario Regulation 136/18: Personal Services Settings to prevent the spread of blood-borne pathogens or infections.

PHIs inspect PSS establishments, both on a routine and complaint related basis, to make sure any deficiencies are quickly corrected, and prepare a report about each visit. Residents are encouraged to look for a certificate - issued by OPH - that ensures the premises has been inspected by a Public Health Inspector.

Residents are urged to consider whether they may be submitting to a procedure that would reasonably be considered a medical intervention. If this is the case, please question the operator and, if in doubt, contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to inquire. OPH is also available for questions about issues of cleanliness and hygiene at 613-580-6744.

Inspection results are also available on the City of Ottawa's Open Data Catalogue.

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