Access is everything: Eyewash stations & showers must be ready when needed

Repost from ISHN

Written by Sally Smart
Sally J. Smart is a Technical Safety Specialist for Grainger. She is a Board Certified Safety Professional® (CSP) and a Qualified Safety Sales Professional (QSSP). Sally is OSHA – 30-hour trained for both Construction and General Industry and is an OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer for General Industry.

When working with corrosives, drenching facilities should be readily available. According to OSHA’s Medical and First Aid Standard 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.151(c) “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.” These drenching facilities could include an eyewash, eye/face wash, shower or combination eye/face wash shower depending on the amount of possible exposure.

Since OSHA does not clarify what the minimum requirements for “suitable facilities” are, employers look to the voluntary American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1-2014 Standard for Emergency Eyewashes and Shower Equipment for guidance. ANSI Z358.1-2014 helps users select and install proper emergency equipment to meet OSHA requirements. Also, OSHA often uses ANSI Z358.1 as a guide during inspections and may elect to issue penalties for those found not to be in compliance.

ANSI Z358.1-2014 Requirements

To ensure that eyewash stations and showers are always ready when needed, it is important that the requirements for test procedures and maintenance set forth in Z358.1-2014 be followed.

ANSI Z358.1-2014 is divided into five sections and each section addresses how the equipment should perform, as well as testing procedures for ensuring proper operation, installation, maintenance and training.

The requirements for testing and maintaining eye, eye/face washes and showers are based on the manufacturer’s instructions and ANSI protocols. Generally, the manufacturer’s instructions state that the units should be inspected and tested and the results recorded weekly. Individual owner manuals should be reviewed for the specific manufacturer’s guidelines.

Plumbed and Self-Contained Emergency Showers, Eyewash Equipment, Eye/Face Wash Equipment and Combination Units Performance and Maintenance Criteria:

• Plumbed and self-contained showers must maintain a minimum flushing fluid of 20 gallons per minute (GPM) at 30 pounds per square inch (PSI) for 15 minutes

• Plumbed and Self-Contained Eyewash Equipment must maintain a minimum flushing fluid of 0.4 GPM at 30 psi for 15 minutes

• Eye/Face wash equipment must maintain a minimum flushing fluid of 3 GPM at 30 PSI for 15 minutes

Supplemental Equipment

Annual inspections

Each year emergency products must be inspected to ensure they comply per the ANSI standard. While a fixture may be certified to meet the ANSI standard, once installed, it is important to make sure it is installed according to the standard’s requirements.

Weekly checklist

• Equipment is installed within 10 seconds from the hazard and on the same plane as the hazard

• Pathway is clear of obstructions

• Equipment is activated to ensure compliant operation and to clear any sediment

• Equipment is free of broken or missing parts

• Equipment is protected against freezing

• User is protected from scalding water

Save critical seconds

Always inspect and test emergency eyewashes and showers if there is any doubt about their dependability. Identify problems or concerns and establish a regular maintenance program. Consult the manufacturers’ operating manual and ANSI Z358.1-2014 for guidance on test procedures, maintenance, operation and training.

Inspection, testing and maintenance of the emergency eyewash/shower equipment helps ensure that it will function properly when needed. Studies show that the seconds immediately following an eye or body injury caused by a corrosive are often critical to minimize damage.

 

HAWS EMERGENCY SHOWER AND EYEWASH SITE SURVEY PROGRAM

As the industry leader, Haws can help bring awareness to the hidden dangers of inadequate emergency response by providing your facility the opportunity to receive a complimentary ANSI compliance emergency shower and eye/face wash survey. The onsite review includes a detailed inspection report, executive summary chart, summary of recommendations, and an interactive debriefing to review material.

By taking advantage of Haws’ ANSI Emergency Shower and Eye/Face Wash Survey Program, you will be able to ensure your facility not only meets the most recent ANSI Z358.1 Standards, but also provide proper functionality and appropriate first aid capabilities in the event of an emergency.

To learn more or sign up for the program, please visit www.hawsco.com/survey.

Win a $250 Gift Card

Complete our customer experience survey to be entered to WIN a $250 Amazon gift card. Drawings held quarterly.

Enter to Win!