Page 34 - OHS, November/December 2024

E M E R G E N C Y S H O W E R S & E Y E W A S H
Keeping Emergency Eyewash Equipment Clean
If emergency eyewash stations are not maintained properly, sediment and microbial
contamination can be an overlooked and menacing problem. Here are some guidelines to
minimize contamination.
BY RYAN PFUND
jaochainoi/stock.adobe.com
keep emergency eyewash and drench
It is extremely important to proactively
shower systems clean and fully func-
tional in the event of an emergency.
However, sometimes stagnant water can
accumulate due to improper maintenance
and testing, false activations, tampering and
other misuse by workers, leaving equipment
and water vulnerable to contamination.1
Stagnant or untreated water is more
likely to contain sediment or organisms
that cause infection. When a worker uses
an eyewash station that is improperly
maintained, the quality of the potable wa-
ter can become compromised and intro-
duce additional risk to the user.
Emergency eyewash and shower con-
tamination issues can be mitigated by
improving equipment testing and mainte-
nance, selecting equipment with safeguards
against water contamination, and installing
an eyewash alarm system. In particular:
Regular Flushing and Inspection
Weekly activation to allow fl ushing ensures
that nothing is blocking the fl ow of the
fl ushing fl uid 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.
It’s crucial to fl ush lines long enough
to clear the line of sediment, debris and
microbial build-up, verify operation, and
ensure that fl ushing fl uid is available. Self-
contained units should also be visually in-
spected weekly and cleaned in accordance
with manufacturer’s instructions.
Gradually, mineral deposits, sediment
or rust may accumulate in the system. Reg-
ularly check for sediment or scale build-up
and clean the system as needed.
Inspection tags are oft en included with
fi xtures to document testing and to satisfy
a safety audit. Many manufacturers off er
34 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 www.ohsonline.com