Page 44 - OHS, May 2021

EMERGENCY EYEWASH & SHOWERS
Ensuring Your Emergency Shower Equipment is Ready
Toxins are living in the showers and eyewashes; we have your guide against the hazards.
IBY RYAN PFUND
n an encouraging sign of moving beyond the pandemic, more worksites are reopening after extended closures and bringing back more full-time on-site workers. As more facilities get “back to business,” it’s important to note that during a
prolonged period of inactivity, types and locations of hazards can change. Additionally, the temporary shutdown or reduced operation of a building and reductions in normal water use can create health and safety risks for returning occupants.
Whether your facility had been closed or at limited capacity– and even if it has remained open all along-it is a priority to make sure that emergency safety shower and eye wash equipment is running properly with water that is cleared of contaminants. The following steps can assist facility safety managers in preparing their worksite’s emergency showers and eyewashes for safe usage:
Flush Water Systems
As a first step, it is vital to clear building water systems and devices. The CDC says mold, Legionella and lead and copper contamination from corroded plumbing are examples of hazards that may pose a health risk after prolonged periods of building inactivity, such as:
■ For mold, a prolonged period may be days, weeks or months depending upon building-specific factors, season and weather variables.
■ For Legionella, a prolonged period may be weeks or months depending on plumbing-specific factors, disinfectant residuals, water heater temperature set points, water usage patterns and preexisting Legionella colonization.
■ For lead and copper, a prolonged period may be hours, days, weeks or months depending on plumbing and water- specific factors, the amount of time the water remains stagnant inside the pipes, whether there are protective scales or coatings present inside pipes that prevent metals from leaching into water and the materials used to build the plumbing system.
The purpose of flushing the facility’s water system is to replace all water inside building piping with fresh water. To do so, flush hot and cold water through all points of use, such as showers, eyewashes, sink faucets, etc. Note that flushing may need to occur in segments (e.g., floors, individual rooms) based on limitations due to facility size and water pressure.
Flush until the hot water reaches its maximum temperature. Where possible, hot water at the tap should reach at or above 120°F/49°C. Note that anti-scalding controls and devices may limit the maximum temperature at the point of use.
Inspect, Test and Flush
The ANSI/ISEA Z358.1–2014 American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment1 requires that emergency fixtures be tested on a weekly basis to ensure the lines are clear of sediment and debris. ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 also states that each facility should conduct an annual inspection to be sure they are compliant, as workstations may have changed and new hazards may be present.
During weekly inspections, facility managers should check
40 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2021
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that plumbed emergency equipment:
■ is placed in accordance with the ANSI/ISEA standard
■ works properly with no missing or broken parts
has lines flushed to clear debris and stagnant water
■
■ is protected against freezing
■ uses tepid fluid between 60-100° F or 16-38° C
Weekly activation ensures that nothing is blocking the flow of the flushing fluid and eliminates any chance of contamination from stagnant water. It’s important that all heads of the device are activated, including the eyewash or eye/face wash head as well as the showerhead.
Take time to flush lines long enough to clear the line of sediment and debris. Self-contained units should also be visually inspected weekly. Inspection tags are often included with fixtures to document testing and to satisfy a safety audit.
Employ Testing and Flushing Tools
There are some materials safety personnel can use to assist in weekly testing, such as a heavy-duty drench shower tester designed with a water-tight funnel to minimize getting wet during testing. The funnel directs water to a drain or bucket and prevents water splashing in the surrounding area. For testing eye wash fixtures, a transparent plastic compliance gauge can help test the eye or eye/ facewashsystemaccordingtoANSIZ358.1-2014testingprotocols.
Consider Portable Units
Lack of running water may be an issue for some worksites. In these cases, portable units can be used as a convenient and flexible mobile solution when running water isn’t available or as a backup at times when water isn’t running. Tankless water heaters on transportable carts can supply heated water to precise temperatures on demand wherever needed. To clean portable tanks, use warm, soapy dishwater (do not use bleach) and rinse well before refilling with potable water and preservative.
Check Location Relative to Hazards
A number of changes over the past year, like workspaces being reconfigured to allow for at least six feet of social distancing between workers, may impact the required placement of emergency eyewashes and showers throughout worksites. The ANSI/ISEA Z358.1–2014 standard states that fixtures must be located within 10 seconds or 55 feet (17 meters) from a potential hazard. They must also be located on the same level as the hazard with an unobstructed path of travel.
Avoid Contamination of Equipment
For eye/face washes, one of the newer models comes equipped with a self-draining design that eliminates any settled water in the system. This model also incorporates separate supply and waste pipes to prevent cross-contamination from the clean inlet and wastewater.
Sometimes stagnant water is left over from false activations,