What Does Emergency Eyewash Station Mean?

An emergency eyewash station is a portable or permanent station for the exclusive purpose of rinsing the eyes after worksite contamination.Stations allow employees to make use of on the spot decontamination within seconds of exposure.In many industries,eye wash stations are essential compliments to such personal protective equipment as goggles,and face shields.Emergency eyewash stations are fitted with a flushing fluid that has been found to be a medically acceptable means of flushing contaminants from the eye.Emergency eyewash stations may use potable water,saline solution that has been preserved and buffered or preserved water as a flushing fluid.The equipment installed should provide fluid for flushing for a minimum of 15 minutes.Eyewash stations should be confined to the flushing of the eyes and face only,while emergency showers should be used for larger exposure emergencies.The station should allow the flushing fluid to be applied to both eyes at the same time.The velocity of the flush should not be too much that it actually causes harm to the eye.

What Does Eye Protection Safety Mean? 

Eye protection safety is the assessment and removal of hazards that may cause injury to the eye.Since workplace eye injuries very common,employers must provide their employees with eye protection equipment that provides adequate protection against the specific hazards they face.Some Institutes provides standards and regulations for workplace eye safety.

Common injuries to the eye include:

• Impact from slivers of metal or wood caused by the use of power tools.

• Thermal burns.

• Chemical injuries from contact with strong acids or alkali.

• Blunt force trauma.

• Infection from exposure to microbes.

To avoid these kinds of injuries,employers must perform a thorough risk assessment and draft and adopt a safety plan to control the uncovered hazards.

Workers who face the risk of eye injury must use specially designed eyewear,whether in the form of safety glasses,safety goggles,or full-face masks.An eye protection safety program should also cover first aid training in the event of an injury eye.

How should I approach servicing and maintenance for emergency safety showers and eyewash stations?

When an accidental hazardous exposure occurs in the workplace, emergency eyewash stations or showers can (sometimes literally) be a lifesaver.But like any emergency equipment,they require proper care and maintenance to work effectively when needed.

The Importance of Maintenance

Let's start by briefly discussing why this maintenance is so necessary.

It mainly comes down to the quality of the fluid being released.In improperly maintained eyewash and shower stations,stagnant water acts as a prime breeding ground for organisms that can cause infections,including acanthamoeba,pseudomonas,and legionella. These organisms can then come in contact with the eyes or skin,or may be inhaled by workers using the shower or eyewash station.The result can be anything from eye,skin,and lung infections to Legionnaires’ disease.

How to Perform Maintenance Operations

So,what can you do to properly maintain and service your emergency eyewash and shower stations?

Employers should conduct weekly activations of plumbed units to ensure that they are functioning properly.During these operations,you’re looking for the following things:

1. To ensure there is flushing fluid supply at the head of the device.

2. To clear the supply line of any sediment buildup that could prevent fluid from flowing freely.

3. To minimize the buildup of organisms due to stagnant water.

4. To ensure the optimal overall functioning of the unit(s).

Essentially,you want to flush out all stagnant water.If your system has both hot and cold valves,be sure to service them both.You’re also looking to ensure that the water flows properly,and that the temperature is tepid – not too hot,and not too cold.Standard Guideline is 60°F (16°C) to 100°F (38°C).

Eyewash Station

• The path from the hazard to the Eyewash or Eye/Face wash shall be free of obstructions and tripping hazards.

• Eyewash station shall flush both eyes simultaneously within gauge guidelines.

•  Eye or Eye/Face wash shall provide a controlled flow of water that is non-injurious to the user.

• Nozzles and flushing fluid shall be protected from airborne contaminants (dust covers),and shall not require a separate motion by the operator when activating the equipment.

• Eyewashes must deliver 0.4 gpm for 15 minutes,Eye/Face washes must provide 3 gpm for 15 minutes.

• The top of the Eye or Eye/Face wash water flow must not fall below 33" (83.8 cm) and can be no higher than 53" (134.6 cm) from the floor surface floor the user is standing.

• The head or heads of the Eyewash or Eye/Face wash must be 6" (15.3 cm) away from any obstructions.

• The valve must allow for 1 second operation and the valve shall remain open without the use of the operator's hands until intentionally closed.

•  Manual or automatic actuators shall be easy to locate and readily accessible to the user.

• Water temperature of Eye or Eye/Face wash station should be within 60–100  °F (16–38 °C).

• Eye or Eye/Face wash stations should have highly visible and well lit signage.