Eye Wash Station

Flushing Irritants Away

An eye wash station is a system providing an uninterrupted, free flow of water in the workplace; in order to flush away the hazardous substances one may get exposed to, specially, in the eyes, despite all the eye protection one might have taken.

At times it is mentioned with the name of emergency shower as well, in case it takes care of flushing away the hazardous substances from the whole body.

The exposed or injured body part must be immediately flushed with water under low pressure, uninterrupted for 5 to 60 minutes depending on:

• 5 minutes in case the chemicals are mild.

• 20 minutes if the chemicals are in the range of moderate to severe irritants.

• Again 20 minutes only if the chemicals are non-penetrating corrosives - meaning thereby the chemicals that react with human tissue to form a protective layer limiting the extent of damage. Most of the acids barring hydrofluoric acid specially fall under this category.

• 60 minutes if the chemicals are penetrating corrosives that enter the skin or eyes deep, e.g., most of the alkalies, hydrofluoric acid and phenol.

An uninterrupted flow of water through an eye wash station is no treatment in fact, but it does reduce the length and the extent of treatment required later, by diluting and washing away the chemicals right now, before they have already affected the organ/s deep.

In fact, an eye wash station provides the first aid only. A competent doctor is to be contacted immediately after.

The eye wash station is designed to flush the eye and face area only.

An emergency shower flushes the full head and body alike.

Combination units containing both features - an emergency shower and an eye wash station are also available and are certainly the more protective alternatives.

Both, plumbed as well as portable models are available.

An eyewash station is to be designed to deliver:

• a volume of not less than 1.5 liters/minute (0.4 gallons/minute) for 15 minutes.

• a velocity that does not injure the eyes.

• a height between 83.8 and 114.3 cm (33 to 45 inches) from the floor.

• a minimum of 15.3 cm (6 inches) separation from the wall.

• the valve not needing a hand to keep operated.

• an activation time of less than 1 second.

• the user to be able to open the eyelids with hands and still have the eyes immersed in the liquid.

An emergency shower is to be designed to deliver:

• a volume of not less than 75.7 liters/minute (20 gallons/minute) for 15 minutes.

• a velocity that does not injure the skin.

• a height between 208.3 and 243.8 cm (82 to 96 inches) from the floor.

• a minimum unobstructed area of 86.4 cm (34 inches) in diameter.

• the valve not more than 173.3 cm (69 inches) in height and not needing a hand to keep operated.

• an activation time of less than 1 second.

A person should be able to reach the eye wash station in no more than 10 seconds, translating to a distance of 15 to 30 meters (50 to 100 feet) on the same floor.

This distance may be reduced to 3-6 meters (10-20 ft) in case of highly corrosive chemicals.

The eye wash station should be identified with a highly visible sign, symbolic in nature and not linguistic.

The temperature of the water in an eye wash station is to be kept not less than 15.5°C (60°F) and not more than 38°C (100°F).

All workers must be trained in the proper handling and use of the eye wash station and/or the emergency shower well before any emergency takes place.

They must also be trained to remove the contact lenses immediately, the moment eyes get injured; as the lenses may keep chemicals trapped under them and thus stop them from being flushed away.

And do keep it in mind - the 11th hour preparation is always the worst preparation!

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