The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is committed to fostering a professional community that prioritizes health, safety, respect, and accountability.
This page is intended to support individuals who have experienced or witnessed conduct that conflicts with these expectations within APP spaces or relationships.
We recognize that sharing concerns like these can be difficult, and we appreciate you taking the time to report them.
If you are in immediate danger or need urgent assistance, please contact local emergency services or a trusted resource in your area. The APP is not able to provide emergency or real-time support, but we encourage you to seek immediate help from local resources.
What This Page Is For
This reporting process is intended for concerns related to professional conduct that may conflict with APP expectations, including:
- Violations of the APP Member Code of Conduct
- Conduct at APP events that creates an unsafe, unwelcoming, or hostile environment
- Harassment, discrimination, or abuse of power connected to APP activities
If you’re unsure whether your concern fits within this scope, you may still submit a report.
These concerns may involve APP members, volunteers, presenters, exhibitors, or others participating in APP spaces.
Understanding Harm in Our Community
Harm can take many forms. It may be obvious, or it may be subtle.
This can include:
- Comments, jokes, or language that exclude or demean
- Repeated or unwanted attention or contact
- Misuse of power or influence in professional relationships
- Social exclusion, intimidation, or public criticism
- Online harassment or targeted behavior
Harm is not always intentional. It can happen through misunderstanding, bias, or lack of awareness. At the same time, impact matters.
As a community, we all share responsibility for creating environments that are respectful, inclusive, and safe.
What the APP Can and Cannot Do
The APP is an educational nonprofit organization. We are not a regulatory body.
This means:
- The APP does not license piercers or studios
- The APP cannot revoke someone’s ability to work as a piercer
- The APP does not enforce health codes, criminal law, or local regulations
APP membership reflects that a studio meets established minimum standards for health, safety, and professional requirements. It does not indicate endorsement of all business practices, personal behavior, or individual decisions made by a member.
When concerns are reported, the APP reviews the information provided to determine whether action is possible, appropriate, and within its scope. The APP’s ability to act depends on all available information, including any supporting or corroborating information, as well as legal, ethical, procedural, and organizational considerations.
Possible actions within the APP’s scope are limited to:
- Membership status and participation
- Involvement in APP events, programs, or volunteer roles
- Internal review of conduct in relation to APP policies and agreements
Not all reports result in action, and outcomes may be limited by the APP’s scope.
Reporting concerns helps the APP understand patterns of behavior over time, maintain accurate records, and respond appropriately within its scope.
Concerns That May Fall Outside This Process
Many people contact the APP about issues that are outside our scope. These may include:
- Dissatisfaction with a piercing or its outcome
- Infections or healing complications
- Pricing, customer service, or business disputes
- Alleged Code of Conduct violations that pre-date an individual’s agreement to adhere to the Code of Conduct.
- Personal conduct that does not involve an individual’s professional role, APP participation, or interactions within the APP community.
The APP’s standards and policies focus on professional practice and conduct within APP spaces. They do not extend to regulating members’ personal lives or private activities outside of those contexts.
Concerns related to piercing outcomes or healing are often best addressed directly with the studio or a qualified medical professional. While the APP may use this type of feedback to inform education or outreach, it does not typically result in disciplinary action.
In some cases, broader patterns of behavior or related conduct concerns may be reviewed as part of the APP’s scope.
While these concerns may be serious, they may be more appropriately addressed through:
- Local health departments or regulatory agencies
- Medical professionals
- Consumer protection services
- Legal counsel or law enforcement
Our Process and Member Rights
What to Expect
- Reports are reviewed to determine whether the concern falls within the APP’s scope
- Additional information may be requested
- Outcomes vary depending on the nature of the concern and available information
- Not all reports result in action
Possible Outcomes
Depending on the situation, APP responses may include:
- Informal resolution or facilitated conversation
- Providing resources or guidance
- Written warnings
- Limits on participation in events, programs, or roles
- Suspension or removal from APP membership or activities
Member Rights
APP members are expected to follow the organization’s Code of Conduct. At the same time, members are entitled to a fair and consistent process.
This means the APP does not take disciplinary action based on allegations alone. Our ability to act depends on whether a concern falls within our scope and whether a violation of APP policies or agreements can be established.
When concerns are reported, the APP reviews available information and may take steps within its scope. However, in many situations, available information, jurisdiction, or process limitations may affect whether action can be taken.
Depending on the situation, members may be:
- Informed of concerns that may lead to action
- Given the opportunity to respond
- Provided access to relevant information used in decision-making (when appropriate)
- Allowed to provide additional context or clarification
In cases where significant action is being considered, additional procedural steps may be required to ensure fairness and consistency.
Confidentiality and Transparency
The APP makes reasonable efforts to respect the confidentiality of all parties involved. However:
- Complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in all situations
- In some cases, information may need to be shared to allow for a fair process
- Legal obligations may require disclosure
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No. The APP is not a regulatory body. We do not license piercers or studios, and we cannot prevent someone from working.
Concerns related to professional conduct connected to APP members, events, or activities.
The APP reviews reports to determine whether conduct may conflict with our policies or agreements. Every report is reviewed carefully. Whether the APP is able to take action depends on whether the matter falls within our scope, the information available (including any supporting or corroborating information), as well as on ethical, legal, procedural, and organizational considerations.
We are not a regulatory or law enforcement body and do not conduct formal investigations. Our role is to review information provided, follow up when appropriate, and determine whether any action is warranted within our scope.
The APP’s ability to take action depends on a number of factors. If it’s determined that the organization cannot take action, it does not mean your report was ignored. Rather, it means the matter may fall outside the APP’s scope, or that the organization’s ability to act is limited by one or more factors already mentioned.
We understand that a negative experience can be frustrating and concerning. Depending on the situation, you may wish to contact a medical professional, your local health department, or a consumer protection agency.
While the APP requires members to meet certain health, safety, and environmental standards, the APP does not certify body piercers, guarantee outcomes, or evaluate the quality of an individual piercing procedure. Concerns related to piercing results, healing complications, customer service, pricing, or other consumer disputes generally fall outside the scope of the APP’s Incident Reporting process.
No. Reports cannot be submitted anonymously. However, information is treated as confidential and will only be shared with consent, unless required by law or necessary for certain processes.
Possibly. If the concern involves an APP member or relates to professional conduct connected to APP expectations, it may be reviewed. However, the APP’s ability to act may be limited.
Reports must come from individuals who were directly involved or who personally witnessed the incident.
Yes, all reports will be taken seriously and given equal consideration, however please be advised we may not be able to hold a member in violation of the Code of Conduct if they had not yet agreed to the Code of Conduct in its current form at that time.
No. Reports must be submitted through the APP’s official reporting form in order to be reviewed.
The form helps ensure we receive the information needed to understand the concern, maintain appropriate confidentiality, and document reports consistently. It also includes questions about what happened and what outcomes you are hoping for.
If you email the APP about a concern, you may be asked to submit the form so it can be reviewed through this process.
Reports are reviewed by a limited group within the APP who are responsible for handling community safety concerns. This includes members of the Community Management Team, the APP Board of Directors, or legal counsel.
Information is shared only as needed to review the concern and support a fair process.
Reports involving APP leadership are handled with additional care to avoid conflicts of interest. Individuals named in a report are not involved in reviewing or making decisions about that report.
Access to reports is limited to those responsible for reviewing the concern.
When a report is submitted, it’s first reviewed by our Community Management Team. All reports are reviewed, and in some cases, you may be contacted for additional information. Once reports are ready, when appropriate they may also be reviewed by the Board and also by legal counsel if needed.
The review process may take time for a variety of reasons (depending on the nature of the report and available capacity), and in some cases it may also take time before the APP is able to provide a response. We may not be able to provide updates or follow-ups in all cases, and we are not able to provide a timeframe for when communication may happen, but we aim to provide a response as fast as possible when appropriate.
No. The APP does not share details about individual reports or make public comments about specific cases or allegations.
This includes responding to or correcting public claims or speculation about reports. To protect the privacy of all parties and maintain a fair process, we do not discuss whether a report has been filed or what actions may or may not have been taken.
The absence of a public response should not be interpreted as a lack of review or action.
Decisions about participation in APP events are based on conduct and safety considerations connected to APP policies and expectations.
The APP does not restrict participation based on personal disagreements or general dislike between individuals. However, when behavior raises credible safety concerns or conflicts with APP policies, participation may be limited.
These decisions are made through the APP’s review process and depend on the information available.
Preparing to Submit a Report
Before submitting a report, it can be helpful to:
- Provide information based on your direct experience or what you personally witnessed
- Focus on the specific behavior or incident you are reporting
- Include relevant details (who, what, when, and where)
- Keep descriptions clear and concise to help us understand and review the concern
- Submit a separate report for each individual involved, if applicable
You don’t need to include your full history with a person or situation. Focusing on the specific incident or behavior helps us review your report more effectively.
If others were involved and would like to share their experience, they are encouraged to submit their own report.
Supporting materials, such as screenshots or documentation, can be submitted after completing the form. Please ensure all submitted evidence complies with privacy and consent laws
SUBMIT A REPORT
If your concern may fall within the scope described above, you may submit a report using the form below.
Contact
For general questions about reporting to the APP, please email community@safepiercing.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
- Trauma-Informed Body Modification — This in-person course has been offered at the Annual APP Conference by Jen Brockman, Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center at The University of Kansas
- Informed Consent and Trauma-Aware Tattooing by Tamara Santibañez of Discipline Press
- While this pertains to tattooing, it can easily apply to all Body Art practices
- Also offers workshops
OUTSIDE RESOURCES
The APP recognizes that our organizational resources are limited when it comes to these issues and that we are not experts in this field. Below are outside expert outside resources, that amongst many things, can help you find
- Support
- Guidance on taking legal action
- Resources for the workplace
- Resources on accountability and restorative justice
ADVOCACY & SUPPORT
- RAINN
- 24/7 National Sexual Violence Support – hotline and live chat
- State Law directory (Policy) – from the legal definition of sexual violence acts to the statute of limitation for a particular sex crime
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Online Resource List for Survivors – provides a variety of support resources based on race, gender, identity, and age.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Psychology Today support groups, therapists, teletherapy, and treatment centers by state
- Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC)
- CASA Forum – Victorian (Australia) Centres Against Sexual Assault
- Hot Pink Pages – providing abuse information in over 110 languages; and information on abuse help agencies for every country in the world.
WORKPLACE
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Toolkit by Equal Rights Advocates, this contains:
- information about employees’ legal rights
- tips on what to do if an employee experiences sexual harassment or is facing retaliation
- additional resources for legal information
- crisis hotline by state and city
- Women’s Law – Providing information about types of abuse, danger assessment, safety tips, workplace resources, and legal information.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE
- Building Accountable Communities – Eight 5 minutes video introductions to accountability
- Spring Up – Spring Up cultivates a culture of consent and liberty for all through storytelling, transformative justice and popular education.
- Transform Harm – Resource hub dedicated to ending violence and transforming our relationships to each other and society. This contains blogs, media, and articles helpful for communities, those who do harm, and those who have been harmed.
- Leaving Evidence | a blog by Mia Mingus – information on accountability and apologizing for those that have done harm
- The Ahimsa Collective | For Survivors
Definitions
Harassment, as a legal term, is governed by local laws, which vary, but is generally defined as a course of conduct which annoys, threatens, intimidates, alarms, or puts a person in fear of their safety. Harassment is unwanted, unwelcome and uninvited behavior that demeans, bullies, threatens or offends and results in a hostile environment.
Harassing behavior may include, but is not limited to, epithets, derogatory comments or slurs and lewd propositions, assault, impeding or blocking movement, offensive touching or any physical interference with normal work or movement, and visual insults, such as derogatory posters or cartoons. When these behaviors become repetitive, they are defined as bullying and distinguish it from insult.
Harassment can be based on actual or perceived membership in any protected class: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This definition includes many forms of offensive behavior and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. The following is a partial list of sexual harassment examples:
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Offering benefits in exchange for sexual favors
- Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances
- Visual conduct that includes leering, making sexual gestures
- Verbal conduct that includes making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes
- Verbal sexual advances or propositions
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, or suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations
- Physical conduct that includes touching, assaulting, or impeding or blocking movements
The term “sexual violence” is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to legally defined crimes like sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse. Sexual violence is any sexual act or behavior perpetrated against someone’s will when someone does not or cannot consent. Victims of sexual violence may know the perpetrator(s), such as a coworker, supervisor, friend, relative, acquaintance, peer, colleague, and/or may be involved in a dating or marital relationship with the perpetrator, or the perpetrator may be a stranger. There is an absence of consent whenever a perpetrator uses force, harassment, threat of force, threat of adverse personnel action or volunteer opportunity, coercion, or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.
The commonly held definition of abuse is a pattern of behavior used by one person to gain and maintain power and control over another. This is identified by a pattern of behavior, in other words, not just one incident. These behaviors can take on a number of different forms including physical, sexual, verbal/emotional, mental/psychological, financial/economic and cultural/identity
Differences in power or status, whether perceived or real, are often at the root of harassment and abusive situations. In our studios and industry, we find that several differences in power and status exist.
Piercing professionals are in a position of power over a client during a piercing procedure. This dynamic involves the client being in a vulnerable position, the exchange of trust, and the need for the piercer to honor that trust with professionalism and respect.
There are also many examples of possible power dynamics within a studio, such as; between piercers and their apprentices, studio owners and their employees and/or contractors, management and those they manage, and piercers and management with their counter and support staff.
Evaluating your power dynamics that exist across situations can help you to understand what impact your behavior or words may have on another person.