Emergency Washing Equipment

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Emergency Washing Equipment
Eyewashes and Emergency Showers
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Topics Covered

• Chemical eye and skin hazards
• Personal protective equipment
• Emergency washing standard
• Eyewashes
• Emergency showers
• Drench hoses

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Why are eyewash or emergency showers needed?
The first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a
hazardous chemical, especially a corrosive
chemical, are critical. Delaying treatment, even
for a few seconds, may cause serious injury.
Emergency showers and eyewash stations provide
on-the-spot decontamination. They allow workers
to flush away hazardous chemicals that can cause
injury. Emergency showers can also be used
effectively in extinguishing clothing fires or
for flushing contaminants off clothing.
Eye damaged by corrosive liquid
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The following types of chemicals require
emergency washing equipment

• Corrosives -
• that destroy tissue
• include acids and caustics
• includes chemicals with pH less than 2.5 or more
  than 11
• Strong Irritants -
• that cause an inflammatory effect at point of
  contact
• Toxic Chemicals -
• that are absorbed through the skin and cause ill
  health effects
• includes pesticides

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Typical areas where emergency washing equipment
is needed
Chemical loading stations
Chemical plants
Laboratories
Chemical mixing areas
caustic
Pesticide mixing loading stations
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Typical chemicals needing emergency washing
equipment
Bleach Formaldehyde All acids Sodium hydroxide
Anhydrous ammonia (gas) Aqueous ammonia
Chlorine gas Industrial cleaning chemicals Boiler
chemicals Many solvents Many pesticides
For other chemicals, check material safety data
sheets for chemical properties and eyewash
recommendations
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Ways to Control Chemical Hazards

• Elimination cease using the chemical
• Substitution use a less toxic or less corrosive
  chemical
• Dilution use a less concentrated form of
  corrosive chemicals
• Engineering Controls reduce or eliminate worker
  access to the chemical
• PPE gloves, eye protection, aprons etc.

However, first aid and emergency washing
facilities are still needed when splashes, spills
or releases occur.
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Engineering Control Examples

• Closed Containers
• Closed Systems
• Container Splash Guards
• Container Pumps eliminates hand pouring

Example of a pesticide closed mixing system
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Chemically Resistant Gloves
The type of glove required depends on the kind of
chemical. The following are recommended for most
chemicals
Neoprene Butyl PVC Nitrile Latex - only for
corrosives
Link to chemical glove selection guide Note this
link refers to farm chemicals, but applies to all
chemicals
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Goggles and Face Shields
Goggles are required when handling corrosive
liquids
Face shields are recommended for highly corrosive
chemicals
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Protective Clothing

• Includes aprons, coveralls, whole-body suits
• Required if there is a risk of splashes to the
  body from highly corrosive or toxic chemicals.

• Whole-body protective clothing is typically
  required at chemical plants or hazardous
  waste sites.

Link to PPE Guideline
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• Can PPE be used in lieu of emergency washing
  facilities or vice versa?
• No!!! Both are needed.
• PPE can prevent injury, but is not failsafe.
• Emergency washing facilities are used to treat
  or minimize injury when PPE fails or employees
  fail to use it.

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Real-life examples of failed PPE
Gloves found at plating shop where acids,
caustics, and cyanide solutions were used were
found to have pinholes.
Poor housekeeping and improper glove care
resulting in chemical getting inside gloves.
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Emergency Washing Regulations

• Found in the Core Rules - WAC
  296-800-150(First Aid)
• ANSI Z358.1-1998 Emergency Eyewash Shower
  Equipment
• Referenced in the Rule
• If you follow ANSI, you will comply with WAC Rule
• Most eyewash and emergency showers meet ANSI
  standard

Click on graphics above to link to core rule or
ANSI
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General Requirements

• Where emergency washing facilities are
• needed, they must be readily available and
• accessible as follows
• Free from obstructions or obstacles
• Can be reached in 10 seconds or less
• Function properly

Note The travel distance to the eyewash or
shower should be no more than 50 ft.
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Obstructed Eyewash Example
Photo is an actual eyewash located at commercial
laundry. Employees handled concentrated bleach
and caustic detergents. Consider this scenario
a worker with bleach in eyes, bumping into
barrels, leaning over obstructions and bumping
head on ledge, then finding that this eyewash was
not hooked up to water!
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Emergency Eyewashes

• Required where there is the potential
• for an employees eyes to be exposed
• to corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic
• chemicals.
• Eyewash must irrigate and flush both
• eyes simultaneously and allow the
• user to hold the eyes open with both hands.
• On-off valve must be activated in one
• second and remain open.
• Must deliver at least 0.4 gallons per minute for
  15 minutes.

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Improper Eyewash Examples
Inadequate eyewash for plating shop using large
volumes of acids and caustics.
Nozzle was modified into a jet of water which
would be painful at best. Does not meet ANSI
standards
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Approved Portable Eyewash
Portable eyewashes can be used where there is no
plumbing. Must meet same standards as plumbed
eyewash. Must contain at least 6 gallons of
water. Make sure they meet ANSI standards.
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Low Flow Eyewash not approved
One gallon reservoir is not sufficient as primary
eyewash. This unit also has insufficient flow
rate. Can be used as an auxiliary eyewash only.
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Personal Eyewash Equipment

• Often called eyewash bottles
• Must use potable water or other medically
  approved eye flushing solution.
• Cannot be used in place of required shower or
  eyewash.

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Faucet-mounted Eyewashes

• Most faucet-mounted eye washes
• are intended to be supplemental equipment.
• Some units do not meet the
• provisions of ANSI Z358.1 for eyewash
• since it takes two steps to activate them as
  illustrated.
• Some manufacturers have recently offered
  faucet-mounted eyewashes that meet ANSI
  standards.
• These units should only be used only with cool
  or warm water to prevent scalding.

1. Turn on water
2. Pull knob
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Emergency Showers

• Required if there is a potential for substantial
  portions of the body to come into contact with
  corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals.
• Must provide 20 gallons per minute for at least
  15 minutes.
• A bathroom shower does not meet these water flow
  requirements.

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Hand-held Drench Hoses

• Hand-held, single-headed device attached to
  flexible hose.
• May not be used as a substitute for required
  eyewash or emergency showers.
• Must provide 3 gallons per minute for 15 minutes.
• Are useful for small spills on extremities.

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Appropriate Water Temperature
Water temperature should be moderated to prevent
additional harm from scalding or
hypothermia. Most people cannot tolerate
flushing their eyes with ice-cold water for 15
minutes. Any temperature compatible with
extended flushing is O.K.
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Using Emergency Washing Equipment
Emergency washing equipment is rarely used since
emergencies by definition are rare events. On the
rare occasion it is needed, a workers eyesight
can be saved. The employee with corrosive liquid
splashed in the eye will often need help in
finding the eyewash and in keeping his eyes open
for 15 minutes. A short training for all at-risk
workers should be done where equipment is
located and how to use it.
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Equipment inspection

• Plumbed eyewashes and drench
• hoses must be activated weekly and inspected
  annually.
• Emergency showers must be activated and inspected
  annually.
• Portable equipment must be
• inspected and maintained according to
  manufacturers instructions.
• Sealed portable units must be replaced after
  expiration date.

Checking an emergency shower
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Potable water

• Potable means meeting drinking water standards
• Some workplace or well water is not fit for
  drinking
• Emergency washing facilities not using potable
  water must have signs stating that the water is
  non-potable

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Emergency Washing Equipment Citations
In 2003 2004, over 300 companies were cited for
either a lack of equipment, blocked access or
lack of maintenance.
Every type of business was cited, from
restaurants to auto dealers to fruit packing
warehouses.
Over 200 of these were cited as serious
violations which typically include monetary
penalties.
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Additional Information

• More information on emergency washing equipment
• is available on the WISHA webpage at
• http//www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/Emergency
  Wash/default.asp

For additional assistance, you can call one of
our consultants. Click below for local L I
office locations http//www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/cons
ultation/regional_consultants.htm
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• Thank you for taking the time to learn about
  safety and health and how to prevent future
  injuries and illnesses.