Page 58 - OHS, June 2024

EMERGENCY SHOWERS & EYEWASH
Optimal Emergency Response Features
Here are examples of system features that can ensure quick and effective response during emergency situations:
Ergonomic activation. It’s important that equipment is designed with accessible and easy-to-activate mechanisms that minimize phys- ical strain and maximize ease of use during emergency situations. This involves ensuring the mechanism can be easily seen, reached and operated by individuals in distress. This is particularly beneficial if the user’s hands are contaminated or injured, or if the user is wearing protective gear or experiencing disorientation due to the emergency.
Clear and intuitive design features reduce the need for exten- sive training on usage, reduce margin for error when using the equipment and increase confidence of personnel when they use the fixture. Features such as angled nozzles and supportive handholds enhance usability, especially for individuals of varying heights and physical abilities.
Examples of such activations include large, easy-to-grab pull handles, push handles, foot controls or swing activation. Equipment with fittings that are bright yellow in color are highly visible, helping to draw users’ attention to them when an emergency strikes.
Enhanced washdown coverage. When harmful contaminants reach the delicate eye area, and extend to the outer portions of the face, or contact the body, every second counts. Therefore, evaluat- ing the amount of total face and body coverage provided by the eye/face wash and/or shower is key. For drench showers, in par- ticular, steady water flow under varying water supply conditions from 30–90 psi should be assured by integral flow control in the sprayhead assembly.
Newer models of emergency fixtures are designed to deliver a more uniform and complete spray pattern distribution. Older shower designs push the flow of water to the outer rim of the show- erhead, creating a hollow space in the center of the pattern that can miss affected areas.
Using the latest technology in fluid dynamics, new drench shower designs work in tandem with a pressure regulated flow control and the spinning motion of water, which creates an optimal spray pattern to rinse off contaminants as quickly and thoroughly as possible. The contoured shape combined with the spinning wa- ter funnels the water into a concentrated, yet gentle, deluge to en- sure the most effective flush available.
Modern eye and eye/face wash models utilize a much more ac- curate method to maintain the flow of water over varied pressures. With the right flow control, a gentle, non-injurious flow of water can be delivered based on the pressure supplied to the fixture, al- lowing for minimal variance across a wide range of pressure.
Due to advances in fluid dynamics technology, newer eye/face washes provide 20 percent better washdown and protection than other designs.
Ensuring tepid water for comfortable and complete flush- ing. As mentioned earlier, it’s important to provide reliable, on- demand, tepid water for flushing fluid. ANSI/ISEA suggests an incoming water temperature between 60° F and 100° F (15.6-37.8° C). This temperature range feels most comfortable to users and helps encourage the full 15-minute flush of the injured area.
Both thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) and electric tankless water heaters can deliver tepid water on-demand reliably and ef- ficiently. For TMVs, look for models that precisely control output temperature and provide protection from variations in input tem-
Emergency safety showers and eyewashes are designed to flush away hazardous substances from the eyes, face or body, preventing permanent damage from chemical burns or foreign substances.
perature and pressure. These models should deliver accurate tem- perature control to within ± 3°. Alternatively, electric tankless water heaters are also efficient and precise in supplying tepid water, and draw energy only when needed, saving energy and utility costs.
Combination eyewash and shower systems. Conveniently combined eyewash and emergency shower units streamline re- sponse efforts by providing both functionalities in a single unit. This integrated design reduces confusion during emergencies and ensures that users have access to the appropriate decontamination solution quickly. These two-in-one designs can save space and typically fit easily into a variety of restrictive work environments.
Portable gravity-fed eye washes. When work environments are dynamic in nature or have no water supply or power available, portable eyewash stations can provide an adaptable emergency wa- ter source solution. With a compact design that allows user acces- sibility in tight spaces, a gravity-fed eyewash meets the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 standard with a constant 15-minute flush using as little as seven gallons of water. These models can be used with a waste cart to make it easy to relocate and transport the unit to hazard areas. Models with clear tanks allow easy fill-level checks.
Integrated alarms and indicators. Eyewashes and emergency showers equipped with integrated alarms and visual indicators alert nearby personnel – and emergency responders – when the equipment is activated. Not only do these models help improve emergency response time, they help to dissuade unwanted tam- pering of these devices when not in use.
While user-friendly features play a vital role in eyewashes and emergency showers, personnel training and product testing are also important to ensure swift and effective response during emergencies. Emergency equipment manufacturers offer free job site evaluations to help with product selection, equipment main- tenance and testing, employee training placement of fixtures and ANSI compliance.
Ryan Pfund, Senior Product Manager, Bradley Fixtures Corpora- tion, Menomonee Falls, Wis., a USGBC & ISEA member and manu- facturer of locker room products, plumbing fixtures, washroom acces- sories, partitions and emergency fixtures.
56 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2024
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