Chemical Safety
Chemical Safety
Emergency safety showers and eye/facewash units
Emergency safety showers and eye/facewash units provide vital first aid in the event of an industrial accident where workers may be contaminated with potentially dangerous substances. The aim is to start treatment as quickly as possible and therefore reduce the impact of an injury until trained medical help arrives. To do this requires the right equipment, in the right place. Also, it must be easily accessible and maintained in good working order, ready for immediate action. For minor injuries, this first-aid may be the only treatment required but for more serious injuries, effective decontamination can mean the difference between life and death.
Unfortunately, emergency showers and eyewashes are sometimes an afterthought. Even when the appropriate equipment is installed it can be easily forgotten and neglected - until it is too late. The introduction of increasingly stringent health and safety regulations, backed up by legislation such as Britain's
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, emphasise the need for a planned approach to evaluating need and implementing a satisfactory plan of action.
If you are moving into new premises, extending existing facilities or simply reviewing current capability, it is vital to include emergency safety showers and eye/facewash facilities within your health and safety check list. Discussing your requirements with a specialist supplier at an early stage is obviously a good idea, perhaps taking advantage of the free surveys offered by some companies. Keeping up to date with changing industry standards and the latest legislation is all part of their business. The more pro-active companies will be monitoring changes in industry, assessing new hazards and developing new ways to deal with them.
Before consulting a supplier or purchasing equipment it's worth exploring the main issues and options. Understanding something
Unfortunately, emergency showers and eyewashes are sometimes an afterthought. Even when the appropriate equipment is installed it can be easily forgotten and neglected - until it is too late. The introduction of increasingly stringent health and safety regulations, backed up by legislation such as Britain's
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, emphasise the need for a planned approach to evaluating need and implementing a satisfactory plan of action.
If you are moving into new premises, extending existing facilities or simply reviewing current capability, it is vital to include emergency safety showers and eye/facewash facilities within your health and safety check list. Discussing your requirements with a specialist supplier at an early stage is obviously a good idea, perhaps taking advantage of the free surveys offered by some companies. Keeping up to date with changing industry standards and the latest legislation is all part of their business. The more pro-active companies will be monitoring changes in industry, assessing new hazards and developing new ways to deal with them.
Before consulting a supplier or purchasing equipment it's worth exploring the main issues and options. Understanding something of the legislation, industry standards and available equipment, will put you in a much stronger position to choose a suitable supplier and the right shower or eye/facewash.
Types of equipment
At first sight, the range of emergency showers on the market can be quite bewildering but in reality, it is much less complicated.
All showers and eye/facewash units are designed for either indoor or outdoor use.
Outdoor showers are further divided into those intended for use in hot or cold climates. Cold climates require insulation and heating to protect against frost damage and to keep the temperature of the water at a comfortable level to avoid putting the casualty into shock. For use in hot climates, showers should be fitted with self-draining valves to ensure that no water remains in the stand pipe after use and therefore eliminate the risk of standing water being heated by the sun.
So far we have only considered showers and eye/facewash units that are permanently plumbed directly into the mains water supply. Where the water pressure is low or unreliable, tank showers provide the most practical solution. Models are available for use indoors and outdoors and will usually have optional features such as chillers and heaters for use in hot and cold climates. They have an integral storage tank which gives some measure of independence from the mains supply. Some of the larger capacity units 1200 litres and above can deliver a sufficient flow of water for the recommended minimum period defined in the industry standards.
Eyewashes are often supplied as an option fitted to both plumbed-in and tank showers. In addition some manufacturers offer the option of a hand held shower which can either stand alone or be plumbed into a shower.
Industry standards
The most commonly used and quoted is the American ANSI Z 358.1 2004 standard which specifies 20 gallons (75 litres) a minute for at least 15 minutes. This applies to both plumbed in and tank showers and is generally accepted worldwide.
A new European Standard DIN EN 15154 (1+2) was published in Oct 2006 and covers emergency safety showers and eye/facewash fountains used in laboratories - part 1 is for showers and part 2 for eye/facewashes. The European standards committee has since issued draft standards for consultation covering eyewash and showers in industry. In essence, it follows very closely the ANSI standard and when finally published will offer an alternative benchmark that takes into account the specific needs of European industry. While several countries including India, Canada and Australia have their own domestic standards, ANSI remains the only truly universal reference.
Easy access for casualties
The ANSI standard recommends that a shower or eye/facewash should be in such a position that it can be reached in no more than 10 seconds and that it is on the same level as the hazard. Fixing the location of the shower will depend not only on ease of access but the available space. For indoor showers most manufacturers offer a choice of wall or ceiling mounting, for use where floor space is restricted, as well as free standing units. Unobstructed access is vital, as the casualty may not be able to see clearly. There have been incidents of pallets, timber and even furniture stacked against or around safety showers. While we may assume no one would deliberately obstruct access, abandoned or discarded materials can soon encroach on the shower area.
Design considerations
Design of the shower or eye/facewash can have a significant impact on its effectiveness, its reliability and service life.
Equipment must be both accessible and easy to operate, even if the victim has impaired vision. Hand-pull levers, panic bars or walk-on foot controls can be used to operate a stay-open ball valve to deliver a continuous drench for the recommended 15 minutes. The casualty must be able to remove contaminated clothing without having to hold on to a spring return valve. Similarly, for eye/facewash units, fast action is crucial with the water supply activated by pulling a handle, pressing a treadle foot control or even pushing a button with the forehead. For units that have an integral cover, the supply can be activated by simply lifting the lid. The unit should operate leaving the victim's hands free to hold the eyes open throughout the irrigation.
Showers are likely to stand idle for long periods but they have to be reliable and ready for immediate use - and that often depends on the choice of components and the overall quality of construction. Good quality valves are important, so too are the actuating devices which should be jam proof, robust and corrosion resistant. In fact, corrosion is probably the biggest single threat to reliability. The larger manufacturers offer the choice of galvanised or stainless steel.
Plastic coating on stainless steel has proved to be very successful at eliminating corrosion on, pipework, operating handles and linkages, particularly in corrosive environments but obviously there is a price consideration as stainless steel is more expensive. Where galvanised steel is used, the galvanising should always be done after any fabrication otherwise there is a risk that the coating may be damaged and is therefore susceptible to corrosion.
For eye/facewash bowls, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) have both proved to be good materials in fact, preferable to stainless steel which can be affected by the chemicals used on some sites.
Eyefacewashes also need careful consideration. In dirty conditions the bowl and diffusers must be protected from airborne contamination. The most popular solution is an eye/facewash with an integral lid linked to the water valve. When a casualty lifts the lid to use the eye/facewash it automatically opens the valve to provide water at the diffusers. In cleaner conditions, such as a laboratory, an open bowl design can be used but it is still important to fit protective covers on the diffusers. Even the smallest speck of dirt trapped within an unprotected diffuser and then carried on the jet of water into the eye can cause damage. Ideally, diffuser covers should be designed to 'pop off' under the pressure of the water as the unit operates so that a casualty with impaired vision can easily start washing their eyes and face. The problem with this type of unit is not one of design but housekeeping. Frequently, the covers will be left off, or worse still, lost, exposing the diffuser to contamination.
Even when diffusers are in place, debris can still enter the system in the water supply itself so it is advisable to install an in-line fine mesh strainer on all eyewash and facewash equipment.
Tepid water
Installing a safety shower doesn't always guarantee it will be effective. There is one other important consideration that could decide if your shower is used properly in an emergency - water temperature.
The ANSI Z 358.1 2004 standard recommends that water delivered from an emergency safety shower should be tepid, which means a temperature between 60° and 100° F (16° and 38°C). It also recommends a minimum flow of 20 gallons a minute for at least 15 minutes.
Beating the cold
In cold and even temperate climates, some form of heating is required to maintain this water temperature.
One option on mains fed showers is an in-line heater that instantly heats the water as it flows along the pipe. However, the high wattage heaters required to meet the ANSI recommended flow rates mean that such systems are not widely used. Purpose designed temperature controlled showers such as those in the Hughes TC range are generally the most practical solution and the most cost-effective. Water is heated in a storage tank which typically has a capacity of about 300 litres. The temperature is raised to 140ºF (60ºC), and mixed with a cold supply from the mains through a high flow rate thermostatically controlled valve. This provides water at the shower head between 77ºF and 95ºF (25ºC to 35ºC). In addition to delivering water at the required temperature through its own shower head, this type of unit can often be used to supply heated water to other emergency safety showers via a second outlet from the tank. This can be a very economical way of enabling several showers in close proximity to deliver water at the ANSI specified temperature and flow rate. In fact, some manufacturers, offer an option without shower or eye/facewash to simply supply heated water for other units. For particularly cold climates, temperature controlled showers are often supplied with an insulated enclosure to protect casualties while they shower and provide a safe refuge afterwards until help arrives. With any enclosed shower, free access is essential. Doors should be push open and preferably self closing so that the casualty can concentrate on the urgent task of showering with minimum effort and maximum protection. Windows are also an important feature permitting colleagues or first aiders to monitor the casualty in case they require assistance. Tank showers can also provide tepid water but in this case, the water supply is exclusively from a heated tank. Connection to the mains water supply is purely to top up the tank and not for mixing. Tank showers range in size from relatively small units that will guarantee an adequate flow for several minutes through to larger units that deliver tepid water for the ANSI recommended 15 minutes even when the mains supply is cut off. With the smaller units, this can only be achieved if the shower is permanently connected to the mains supply.
Hot climates
Where the ambient temperature is high such as in the desert, solar radiation will quickly raise the temperature of water in storage tanks and pipe work to an unbearable level and make the shower unusable. For mains fed showers self-draining models offer a simple solution by removing water from the standpipe when not in use and therefore avoiding the risk of it being heated by the sun. Where mains supplies are inadequate, unreliable or simply not available tank showers are generally used. A variety of techniques are employed to maintain a safe water temperature in tank showers including the use of extra insulation and reflective sun shields. However, if this is not sufficient, it may be necessary to add some type of cooling system for which the key purchasing considerations are cost, reliability and energy efficiency. Depending on the shower's location, the cooling system may also need to be suitable for use in hazardous areas which then significantly increases the cost. The re-circulating chiller system developed by Hughes for tank showers is an example of what can be achieved if all these requirements are addressed successfully. The unit attaches to the side of the tank and can be supplied as part of a new installation or retrofitted to existing showers. At night, the water in the tank circulates through the chiller unit which uses the lower ambient temperature to cool it. During the day, insulation around the tank prevents the temperature of the cooled water rising above the recommended safe limit. Options include models rated for use in hazardous or non hazardous areas. The simplicity of the design ensures reliable operation with minimum maintenance, which is particularly important for remote locations. In addition to integral units, the design has been adapted for stand alone chillers which sit on the floor alongside the shower or eye/facewash.
Workers on the move
So far, we have considered fixed showers and eye/facewash equipment but workers who move around the workplace, in quarries, for example, require a different type of protection. One option, for minor splashes, is to supply a self-contained, portable pressurised cylinder unit that can be carried to wherever the person is working or carried on board a vehicle. They can range in size from about 10 litres to over 100 litres. Some will have a hand-held shower connected to a flexible hose while larger ones may be fitted with a fixed eye/facewash fountain. The aim is to provide an easily accessible supply of clean water for washing the eyes, face or body.
Mobile emergency showers with combined eye and facewashes offer a completely self-contained solution and provide full body coverage. Transported on trailers or trolley mounted for pushing into position, they can provide sufficient water for treating minor contamination or for giving vital first aid in more serious incidents until the casualty can be taken to a fixed installation to complete the recommended period of showering.
Protecting your investment in safety
Simply installing an emergency shower or eye/facewash isn't enough. Regular servicing is essential.
Some companies prefer to carry out the work themselves but pressures, priorities and lack of resources can mean irregular servicing or, worse still, no servicing at all. Others use service professionals such as the company that supplied the equipment. With increasingly stringent health and safety legislation and severe penalties for failing to comply, one thing is certain, taking no action is no longer an option.
In Britain, for example, The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1989 includes three specific requirements for emergency safety showers and eye/facewash fountains.
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Maintenance
Every employer who provides any control measure to meet the requirements of the regulation shall ensure that it is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair -
Examination and Testing
Where engineering controls are provided to meet the requirements of the regulation, the employer shall ensure thorough examinations and tests of those engineering controls -
Records
Every employer shall keep a suitable record of the examinations and tests carried out and a record or a suitable summary shall be kept available for at least 5 years from the date on which it was made
Achieving the right frequency of servicing is essential and something you should discuss with your shower supplier or service company. It will depend on the type of equipment and the working environment and could range from a monthly visit to once every six-months. More than six months is generally not recommended.
Between the routine servicing, it is essential to carry out your own checks to make sure the equipment is accessible and working properly. On a daily basis the shower or eye/facewash should be checked to make sure nothing has been placed nearby that could prevent access. Every week the shower should be activated to flush the line and make sure it operates easily, gives a good spray pattern and produces a consistent flow of water. This is also confirmation that the water supply has not been inadvertently turned off. In addition, a quick visual check should be made each week for cracks or other mechanical damage.
Effective first aid
Despite the increasing awareness of safety issues and the strengthening of legislation world-wide industrial accidents still occur, and no doubt always will so long as human beings are involved. It would be naive to suggest that we will ever totally eliminate them. Consequently, the provision of adequate and effective first-aid in the workplace is vitally important.
With more hazards and increasing legislation there is even greater demands on safety equipment. Manufacturers have responded by extending their range of products to suit every type of incident and site condition.
Choosing the most appropriate shower for a particular application will not only provide the best treatment but ensure that it is used effectively in the event of an accident.
Author Details:
Mike HallMarketing Manager Hughes Safety Showers LtdTel: +44 (0)161 430 6618Email: mike@hughes-safety-showers.co.ukwww.hughes-safety-showers.co.uk
