Combating Hazards

What triggers the need for Emergency Eyewash/Showers?
         - The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states:
"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".

Typical of hazardous occurrences are the spilling, splashing or spraying of acids, caustics, or other dangerous or corrosive agents.
Other common hazards are fire and explosion. Where flammable liquids are present there is a hazard of clothing becoming ignited, only prompt extinguishing of the flames by an Emergency Shower prevents major injury or death. Splashes of molten metals may also cause ignition of clothing.
Splashing and spraying of hot liquids, and worker exposure to toxic or corrosive dust particles are other situations that may require quick drenching/flushing from Emergency Safety Showers and/or Eye/Facewash Fountains to avoid serious injuries.

Unlike heat burn, chemicals continue to burn until they are removed or inactivated. If the removal/flushing is delayed by as little as three minutes the severity of the burn may be significantly increased.

Benefits of Flushing:

There is considerable benefit to the injured person the sooner he or she can get to the emergency eyewash / shower to flush the contaminated area. Flushing accomplishes a number of things:

• Dilutes chemicals on skin/eye
• Flushes the chemicals out of the eyes or off the skin
• Warms/cools the body or eyes from a change of temperature due to chemical exposure
• Extinguishes burning clothes on the body

Selecting Equipment:

This depends upon the risk associated with the workplace or work activity.
The employer is responsible for selecting the correct equipment.
This should include researching specific chemical reactions and the prescribed treatment if contamination occurs.

• An emergency shower should be selected where there is a risk of chemical splash to the body
• An eyewash unit where there is a risk of splash to the eye
• An eye/face wash unit where there is a risk of splash to the eyes and face
• A combination shower and eyewash unit where there is a risk of splash to the body and face

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