Tips for selecting eyewash and emergency showers for facility managers

The Bradley Company provides guidelines for equipping facilities with electrically connected emergency eyewash stations and safety showers.

Eyewash and safety showers should be used in all facilities where there is a risk of contact with hazardous materials or substances such as chemicals, flammables or particles. Immediately flushing the affected areas with eyewash and safety showers will dilute and wash away the irritants, reducing the risk of injury or further harm.

“It is the responsibility of facility and operations management to ensure that emergency showers and eyewashes meet ANSI/ISEA guidelines to provide the best possible protection for employees,” says Ryan Pfund, senior product manager at Bradley. “This means that the equipment must be properly maintained and in good working order, located close to all hazards, and capable of dispensing water at the correct temperature.”

Recognize dangers. Start with a site assessment to identify vulnerable areas, potential hazards and emergency needs. Consider factors such as product location, accessibility, water supply, water temperature and equipment selection.

In addition to the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals in the facility, it is important to reference ANSI/ISEA Z358.1–2014, which lists requirements for installation, testing, performance, maintenance, training, and use of emergency equipment.

Some product manufacturers offer free site visits to assist facility managers in the proper selection, placement and use of fittings.

Know the equipment options. The choice of device depends on the hazards in your facility:

Emergency eyewash stations are effective for spills, splashes, dust or dirt that are likely to only affect the eyes.

Emergency eye/face washers are used when the entire face is at risk from spills, splashes, dust and dirt. They allow the eyes and face to be rinsed simultaneously.

Eyewash stations are used when larger areas of the body are at risk. These overhead showers will rinse a larger portion of the body but are not suitable for the eyes (a combination eyewash station and eyewash station can be used to simultaneously rinse the eyes and rinse larger areas of the body).

Self-contained eyewash stations that are not connected to the water main are a good choice when there is no access to a mains water source. Self-contained units can be used. These flexible systems can be portable and gravity fed.

Find the right placement. After identifying potential hazards and selecting equipment, products should be placed near hazards to ensure they are easy to see and reach. Here are some important ANSI/ISEA guidelines for placement:

• Devices must be located within 17 m of a potential hazard and must not take more than 10 seconds to reach. Access to the device must not be obstructed.

• Equipment must be at the same level as the hazard. A door may be considered an obstruction, but if the hazard is not corrosive, a door may be present provided it swings in the direction of travel and cannot be locked.

• The eyewash fluid pattern height should be between 33 and 53 inches, measured from the floor to the water flow.

• If a potential chemical spill in an area may affect multiple workers, there should be enough equipment to allow everyone to access it.

“Remember that emergency equipment manufacturers offer free jobsite evaluations to help with product selection, equipment maintenance and testing, employee training, fixture placement and ANSI compliance,” says Pfund. “It’s a good idea to seek the opinion of an outside expert so you can stay up to date on inevitable changes in the workplace that may impact the proper use and effectiveness of your emergency equipment.”