Equipping a Workplace With Eye Wash Stations
Does your workplace regularly have small flying particles in the air? Do workers handle chemicals that may splash? To prevent injuries from occurring, workers in such spaces are required to wear personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses or goggles in addition to gloves. Nevertheless, while the safety glasses may keep out the particles, a rare accident may occur, and to be prepared for these instances, a workplace needs to be equipped with eye wash stations.
Eye wash stations provide on-the-spot decontamination by flushing away any foreign or hazardous substances. Water is typically used for eye wash stations, but another flushing fluid may be added instead, such as preserved water, preserved buffered saline solution, or another medical solution.
ANSI Z358.1-2009 requires exposed body parts to be flushed for 15 minutes with a large supply of clean fluid under low pressure. The water, however, only flushes away or dilutes the chemical – it does not neutralize it. Depending upon the substance, on the other hand, more time may be needed. Five minutes is only necessary if the substance is mildly irritating. 20 minutes is recommended for unknown substances, moderate to severe irritants, or non-penetrating corrosives, such as most acids. 60 minutes is necessary for penetrating corrosives, such as alkalies or hydrofluoric acid.
Placement for eye wash stations is crucial for quick and efficient decontamination. A station needs to be 10 to 20 feet from a hazardous area – not too close to become contaminated but not too far away, either. In this area, the eye wash station must be identified with a sign, and a clear path must be present to it from the work area. Because the exposed individual may require additional medical attention, the eye wash station needs to be near an emergency exit.
The water in the station must always be usable. To make this possible, the station must not be adjacent to electrical equipment, and the surrounding area should not be cold; otherwise, the solution inside will freeze. For decontamination, the water needs to be 60°F to 100°F, with 68°F to 77°F being an ideal range. So that the equipment will always operate efficiently, the station needs to be inspected weekly.
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