What specifications should the eye wash & Showers equipment meet ?

What specifications should the eye wash & Emergency Showers equipment meet ?

Note: All dimensions and measurements are taken from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z358.1-2014 “Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment”. However, not all dimensions and measurements required by the ANSI standard are listed here.

Emergency Showers

The emergency shower should deliver a pattern of water with a diameter of at least 50.8 cm (20 inches) at 152.4 cm (60 inches). This diameter ensures that the water will come into contact with the entire body – not just the top of the person’s head. ANSI also recommends the shower head be between 208.3 and 243.8 cm (82-96 inches) from the floor. The minimum volume of spray should be 75.7 litres/minute (20 gallons/minute) for a minimum time of 15 minutes.

The shower should also be designed so that it can be activated in less than 1 second, and it remains operational without the operator’s hand on the valve (or lever, handle, etc.). This valve should not be more than 173.3 cm (69 inches) in height. If enclosures are used, ensure that there is an unobstructed area of 86.4 cm (34 inches) in diameter.

Eyewash and Eye/Face Wash Stations

Eyewash stations should be designed to deliver fluid to both eyes simultaneously at a volume of not less than 1.5 litres/minute (0.4 gallons/minute) for 15 minutes. The combination eye and face wash stations require 11.4 litres per minute (3.0 gallons per minute). However, in either case, the volume should not be at a velocity which may injure the eyes. The unit should be between 83.8 and 134.6 cm (33 to 53 inches) from the floor, and a minimum of 15.3 cm (6 inches) from the wall or nearest obstruction.

With an eye wash station, the user should be able to open their eyelids with their hands and still have their eyes in the liquid. In the case of the eye/face wash, the user should have enough room to allow the eyelids to be held open with the hands while the eyes and face are still in the stream. As with the shower, the unit should also be designed so that it can be activated in less than 1 second, and it remains operational without the operator’s hand on the valve (or lever, handle, etc.) with the valve being located in an easily located place. Since the nozzles to eyewash stations typically need to be protected from airborne contaminants, the units are to be designed such that the removal of these covers should not require a separate motion by the user when the unit is activated.

Self-contained Eye/Face Washes

Install and maintain according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Similar requirements apply as with the plumbed units regarding the unit’s ability to provide flushing liquid for at least 15 minutes, accessible access, and to deliver tepid flushing fluid.

Personal Wash Stations

Designed to deliver flushing fluid immediately, personal wash stations can be used while transporting the person to the permanent eyewash station or medical facility. These stations do not replace the requirement to have a 15 minute-supply eyewash station. The expiry date of the fluid should be printed permanently on the unit.

Drench Hoses

Drench hoses may be used to “spot” rinse an area when a full shower is not required, to assist a person when the person is unable to stand or is unconscious, or to wash under a piece of clothing before the clothing is removed. The ANSI standard states that a drench hose may be considered an eyewash or eye/face wash if the drench hose meets the performance requirements as listed in the standard.

Combination Units

This name refers to equipment that shares a common plumbing fixture. Any of the fixtures such as shower, eyewash, eye/face wash or drench hose may be in this combination, but most commonly it refers to a shower and an eye wash station. It is important that pressure and volume requirements for each piece of the unit (as described above) are in compliance with the code.

The use method of emergency eye-washer and matters needing attention

In order to keep the emergency flushing eye safe and effective, and can be used correctly, special emergency eye-washing service and maintenance provisions are as follows:
I. Use method
1. Emergency eye wash can be used for emergency flushing of other parts of the body, such as eye and face;
2. When in use, open the dust cover of the eye nozzle, as long as the hand push off the valve, clean water will automatically come out from the eye wash, after the use of the push valve will be reset and the dust cover reset;

Ii. Use Management

1. In order to prevent water quality deterioration or switch valve failure, emergency eye wash the management department should arrange the emergency eye washer to start the test water regularly, request to start once a week more than 10 seconds, at the same time to see whether the working condition is normal, if found fault should be reported to the relevant departments to repair equipment;
2. To establish a special notebook, after each test water to record and sign;
3. Keep the emergency eye washer clean, often wipe, the dust cover should be covered in the nozzle, to ensure that the nozzle will not be blocked;
4. An emergency eye-washer is a dedicated protective device and no individual may be used for flushing the instrument or for other purposes;
5. The management of the emergency eye-washer area is responsible for the normal maintenance and maintenance of the eye-washer, and if the eye-washer is found to be damaged, the area in which the eye-washer is reported and repaired;
6. Each room security administrator should carry on the sufficient knowledge training and the operation training to the staff, especially to the new comrade, should have the skillful mastery;
7. An annual inspection of emergency eye-washer is required to see if the equipment is in good condition.
III. Matters needing attention
1. Emergency flushing eye device is only used in emergency situations, temporarily postponement harmful substances to the eyes and the body of further violations, can not replace medical treatment, after washing the situation more serious must be treated to the hospital as soon as possible;
2. This equipment belongs to room temperature equipment, the winter to do a good job pipeline antifreeze; 3. Related items must not be covered, affecting the normal use of emergency eye-washing device.

Reference source : Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety http://www.ccohs.ca