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Emergency
When gloves, goggles and garments fail, emergency showers and eyewash stations had better be nearby.
by Rebbeca Geissler
In an emergency every second counts, particularly one that involves chemical exposure to the eyes and skin. The correct placement of a drench shower, eyewash or combination product can minimize long-term injury to a worker, possibly saving their eyesight. While wearing safety glasses and protective clothing should guard against this type of exposure, immediate flushing of the eyes and skin is essential when these items fail to protect.
Keep it in reach
When locating drench showers and eyewashes in a manufacturing plant, it is first necessary to identify all high-risk areas in the plant. As there are no set requirements for the number of fixtures per employee or square foot, a plan should be developed to protect all workers. ANSI Z358.1 is the prevailing industry standard for drench showers and eyewashes, and it provides the following guidelines for placement of these products:
• A drench shower, eyewash or a combination of the two should be located within 10 seconds of any worker at risk for chemical exposure. The distance a worker can travel in this time frame is estimated to be 55 feet.
• If the worker’s ability to walk or move would be significantly impacted by the chemical exposure, the fixture should be placed closer to the worker.
• If highly corrosive chemicals are used, the drench shower or eyewash should be placed immediately adjacent to the hazard.
• If a potential chemical spill in an area is likely to affect multiple workers, a sufficient number of safety fixtures should be in place to prevent one worker from having to wait 15 minutes while another is drenched.
Keep it in view
Safety fixtures like drench showers and eyewashes should be clearly identifiable and easy to reach in a manufacturing environment. Once the appropriate general location for the fixture has been determined, the following guidelines should also be considered:
• The area around the fixture should be well-lighted.
• The drench shower or eyewash should be identified with a highly visible sign.
• A drench shower or eyewash in a bright color like yellow is easiest to spot in a busy manufacturing environment.
• Avoid any obstructions, including doors, between the worker and the drench shower or eyewash. When the risk is not from a corrosive, it is acceptable for a worker to move through one unlocked door that opens in the direction of travel.
• The worker should not be required to walk up or down stairs to reach the safety fixture.
• Eyewash sprayheads should be a minimum of 6 inches from any wall or obstruction to allow the user clear access for eye flushing.
• The area for flushing under the drench shower should also be unobstructed. The only exception is the eyewash on a combination drench shower & eyewash fixture. In this case, the eyewash is placed within the flow of the drench shower to allow for simultaneous use.
Keep it in mind
Anyone who will be working in the plant should be trained on the locations of these fixtures in the facility, and on the proper use of an eyewash or drench shower. An informed group of employees is more likely to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency situation, and be able to assist others, as required, in using equipment correctly. This is especially important because an injured employee may not be in a physical or emotional state to react appropriately.
The correct placement, installation and use of drench showers and eyewashes are an important part of any plant’s comprehensive safety plan. If you haven’t reviewed your company’s emergency fixture placement and compliance program recently, there’s no better time than right now.
Resources
• Copies of the “American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, ANSI Z358.1-2004,” are available from the ISEA at http://www.safetyequipment.org/eyewash2.htm.
• California guidelines are available from Stanford University at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/mainrencon/Labdesign/ Section_12_ Safety_ Eyewash_ Showers.pdf.
• Safety product application guidelines are also available on Bradley’s Web site at http://www.bradleycorp.com/sweets/guidelines/index.htm.
Rebecca Geissler is a product manager for Emergency Fixtures at Bradley Corp., a leading manufacturer of plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories, partitions, emergency fixtures and solid plastic lockers. She can be reached at Bradley Corp., W142 N9101 Fountain Blvd., Menomonee Falls, Wis., . For more information, call (800) BRADLEY or visit www.bradleycorp.com.
This article appeared in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of MRO Today magazine. Copyright, 2005.
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