Page 45 - OHS, May 2020

equipment manufacturers offer free job site evaluations and can be instrumental in assessing potential problems.
During a walk-through, it is essential to reference the ANSI/ ISEA Z358.1–2014 emergency equipment standard, which out- lines the specific requirements for emergency eyewash and drench shower equipment installation, testing, performance, maintenance, training and use. Safety data sheets (SDS) are another excellent source for determining protection needs, as they contain the first aid information indicating if drenching facilities are required.
Too often, facilities managers underestimate the maximum distance allowed between a critical work area and eyewash/safety shower product. This is an issue since the first seconds following eye and skin exposure are critical to minimizing injury. ANSI pro- vides the following guidelines for product placement:
■ A drench shower, eyewash or combination unit should be located within 10 seconds of a potential hazard or approximately 55 feet with unobstructed access.
■ The equipment must be on the same level the user is work- ing on. If there are doors between the hazard and the fixture, they must swing in the direction of travel.
■ The height of the eyewash flow pattern should be between 33 and 53 inches and measured from the floor to the water flow.
■ If the worker’s ability to walk or move might be 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 mul- tiple workers, a sufficient number of fixtures should be in place to prevent one worker from having to wait 15 minutes while another is drenched.
It’s also important for safety fixtures to be clearly identifiable and easy to reach:
■ The area around the fixture should be well-lit.
■ Each fixture 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 industrial environment.
■ Eyewash spray heads should be a minimum of 6 inches from
walls or obstructions to allow the user clear access for eye flushing. ■ The area for flushing under the drench shower should be unobstructed. The only exception is the eyewash on a combination drench shower and eyewash fixture. In this case, the eyewash is placed in line with the drench shower to allow for simultaneous use.
Supplying Tepid Water
Another common error with eye/face washes and drench showers is failing to provide tepid water. ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 requires that tepid water be delivered to emergency fixtures, which encourages an injured party to complete the full 15-minute flush during an emergency. ANSI/ISEA suggests an incoming water temperature between 60- and 100-degrees Fahrenheit.
Oftentimes maintaining tepid water is overlooked—mostly due to cost—and some take for granted that cold water will be sufficient. However, if the water is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, prolonged exposure could cause hypothermia. Most often, cold water will cause the user to leave the drench or rinse before the 15-minute guideline, risking bodily damage. If the fluid delivered to the affected user is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s possible
www.ohsonline.com
Bradl
BRADLEYCORP.COM
Circle 1 on card.
ey_EFX_OHS_May_3.25x9.75_rev0320_outlines.indd 1 3/17/2020 7:42:52 AM