Safety
Tidbit #2.12 – Eyewashes - Revisited
OSHA Safety and Health
Topics Page – Eye and Face Protection
So how
many times have you inspected a worksite and told them they needed to install
an eyewash? According to OSHA
[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. Most of this standard makes sense since it comes from the ANSI Z358.1
consensus standard for emergency eyewashes and showers. However, there are a few points that clients
typically ask about when complying with the standard.
First,
when is an eyewash necessary? We can understand injurious corrosive materials
(I have heard it also referred to as- eye damaging chemicals). The easiest way
is just to take a look at the Safety Data Sheet.
Second,
how much water must be provided? ANSI defines suitable facilities as capable of
producing 0.4 gallons per minute of water for 15 minutes. Therefore, the quick drench bottles are not
sufficient since mathematically 0.4 GPM for 15 minutes yields approximately 7
gallons of water. Also, the water must
be tepid (60-100 degrees Fahrenheit) since we don’t want to boil or freeze their
eyes.
However, I
find most questions come from the part about the eyewash location “within the
work is for immediate emergency use.”
Rule of thumb has always been if there is a wall, you must go through a
door or have other obstacles the placement is no longer accessible for
immediate emergency use. However, I received a call from a client that asked
how far can it be from the work area.
ANSI specifies 10 seconds or 55 feet, so the old rule of thumb is still
accurate. Their argument is that the average person can walk 55 feet in 10
seconds (Boy, I hope so). Ultimately
remember, if there are any obstacles in the workplace you are right back to
square one and all bets are off. Don't
forget to think about the state of mind of the injured worker during the
emergency is 55 feet too far?
Lastly,
site assessment. Prior to installing the
eyewash, be aware that water and electricity do not mix well together. So, keep
an eye out for panel boxes and outlets (e.g. 36 inches from electrical panels). Also, if installing the eyewash on an
exterior wall, protect it from temperature fluxes such as freezing in the
winter.
Now that
you have determined where to put up your eyewash and have properly installed it
you must maintain it. The eyewash
requires periodic draining and refilling (if self-contained) or flushing based
on the manufacturer’s requirements to remove sediment and keep pathogens from
thriving. Be sure to keep track of this maintenance.
Lastly, is
training. You need to identify the eyewash to workers and they know how to get
to it in an emergency. Also, teach them how to activate it and know when it is
no longer serviceable. A periodic drill or exercise may reinforce how important
it is to know how to get to it. Furthermore, my hope is that if a worker gets
something in their eyes that a fellow worker will lend a hand and help get them
to safety.
Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety
Tidbits ~ Bryan
http://safety-tidbits.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment