Page 45 - OHS, July/August 2022

pipes to prevent cross-contamination from the clean inlet and wastewater.
Overlooking Proper Employee Training
Unfortunately, training employees can fall by the wayside during busy times and get lost in the shuffle of employee turnover. Even the best emergency safety plan cannot be successful without educating and training employees on the correct use of equipment and where they are located. Ultimately, training can make the difference between a bad and good outcome when an employee is contaminated with an injurious material.
Safety experts emphasize that when spontaneously forced to deal with physical pain from an injury, the human instinct is to panic and run away from it or even run to the bathroom and try to wash it off. The best antidote to the “fight or flight” response is regularly educating employees and giving them hands-on training and experience in using safety showers and eye washes. Ultimately, the more management explains the safety framework and procedures, and develops the habit of using the fixtures, the better equipped—and more successful—workers will be in the event of an emergency.
For example, safety concepts to cover in training may include:
■ Training employees to protect themselves first before helping others
■ Removing any barriers between the injured and the safety fixture
■ If clothing is in the way, using safety shears to remove it— don’t pull a shirt over the face, which may spread the contaminant ■ Alerting co-workers and medical personnel how to locate when and where an accident occurred and respond immediately— whether by yelling or using an emergency signaling system with a
visual, audible and auxiliary connection
For assistance with training or developing a company’s safety
plan, manufacturers offer complimentary safety shower and eyewash system site surveys.2 These sessions provide hands-on employee training, reference materials, training guides and other strategies for ensuring ANSI/ISEA compliance and providing the safest workplace possible.
Safety is a Work in Progress
As worksites, operations, employees—and hazards—change, emergency shower equipment should be closely evaluated. Keeping a close watch on ongoing maintenance, placement, testing and employee training will help ensure the highest levels of worksite and employee safety.
Ryan Pfund is Senior Product Manager, Emergency Fixtures, for Bradley Corporation of Menomonee Falls, Wis., a USGBC & ISEA member and manufacturer of locker room products, plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories, partitions, emergency fixtures and tankless water heaters.
REFERENCES
1. http://www.asse.org/ansi/isea-z358-1-2014-american-national- standard-for-emergency-eyewash-and-shower-equipment-/
2. https://www.bradleycorp.com/safety-shower-eyewash-site-survey/
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