Page 40 - OHS, May 2022

EMERGENCY SHOWERS & EYEWASH
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comprehensive guideline outlining specific parameters for the appropriate design, installation, performance, certification, use and maintenance of all types of emergency eyewash and shower equipment across various industries.
ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 compliance with requires rigorous and regular testing to ensure that proper functioning equipment is always available in an emergency response situation. ANSI/ ISEA Z358.1 was revised in 2014, and the most current revision included minor specifications for the design, manufacture and installation of emergency locations, as well as the location and accessibility of safety equipment and adjusted measurements.
OSHA regulations call out and address emergency eyewash and shower equipment response requirements in 29 CFR 1910.151. Specifically, OSHA states, “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.” A key emphasis should be placed on the terms “suitable” and “immediate” as those are of vital importance when procuring, planning and maintaining emergency equipment.
In 2016, OSHA fines for non-compliance increased 80 percent, putting violations for inadequate eyewash and shower equipment at risk of penalties exceeding $100,000. It’s critical to understand that compliance isn’t an annual or monthly responsibility, compliance is a requirement that must be continuously observed for the safety of employees and facility staff. Fines should not be the only motivation for compliance.
ANSI Standards make no distinction between remote locations and permanent installations, in terms of required response times, procedures and available treatment facilities. That means unimpeded access to emergency drench showers and eyewashes within ten seconds, equipment capable of providing 15-minute drench and/or irrigation cycles, tepid water and more.
Remote jobsite work often involves increased risk of injury because workers are in an unfamiliar environment and much of the control they have back at the shop is sacrificed out on the road. Weather elements, like wind and rain, can increase injury potential. So, too, can poor lighting and exposure to someone else’s jobsite shortcuts. In the face of an often more dangerous overall environment, the emergency response equipment typically available on a remote jobsite is usually not as good as that found in more permanent settings.
The standard is the most effective way to ensure that workers are protected from eye, face and body injuries resulting from corrosive materials in workplace incidents such as spills, splashes and blown particulates. Simply put, properly functioning equipment must be readily available at all times, including portable eyewash stations.
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he American National Standards Institute (ANSI) created industry standard ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 in 1981 as a means of establishing minimum performance and use requirements for emergency eyewash and shower equipment. It’s a
36 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2022
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What are the requirements for portable eyewashes? Portable eyewash stations must meet every requirement that a normal plumbed eyewash has to meet, with exception to the weekly testing. The weekly testing of a portable eyewash station is done a bit differently since activation isn’t required. When referencing an ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 checklist, just follow all the requirements for an eyewash.
What are the weekly and annual inspection requirements for a self-contained eyewash station? Weekly inspection of the self-contained eyewash station only consists of a visual inspection to ensure that the tank is still full according to the manufacturer’s requirements, typically a fill line is included on the equipment. It is also beneficial if the tester opens the tank during the weekly inspection to check for growth or debris, especially if a bacteriostatic preservative or cleansing stick isn’t being used to maintain the water.
What are the required lengths of time for portable eyewash stations to meet ANSI compliance and OSHA regulations? Portable eyewash stations are required to run for a minimum of 15 minutes. The length of time is determined by the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the substance. Fifteen minutes is the bare minimum. Some substances require up to 45 minutes. OSHA doesn’t stipulate a time; ANSI only ensures that the equipment is minimally capable of delivering 15 minutes of flushing.
What is needed to provide fieldwork employees (e.g., pest control technicians) who work in the field to ensure they are protected? Fieldwork is always a difficult topic to cover because it’s a challenge to have emergency first aid equipment everywhere. A pressurized or gravity fed portable option on fieldwork vehicles to help ensure access to 15 minutes of flushing water is an ideal option.
How do you provide tepid water to a portable eyewash station? A facility can provide either a hot and cold-water line using a mixing valve, or an instantaneous hot water heater set to a temperature limit nearby. If you have tepid water in your lines, you can supply it using that option. And while the ANSI/ ISEA standard gives a temperature range, it’s best to take into
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