m f e t y in the chemkal laboratory
edited bv
MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho 83843
Safety Showers and Eyewash Fountains John C. Bronaugh Haws Drinking Faucet Company. 1435 Fourth Street, Berkeley. CA 94710
Four of the most common types of emergency equipment are, specifically, eyewash, eyelface wash, drench showers, and combination units. Here is how they relate to the widely accepted American National Stendard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, better known as ANSI 2358.11981. The Standard is aimed at protecting employees in industry, but the same considerations will apply in academic laboratories. You will notice the words emergency equipment. You often hear and see the words emergency and safety equipment used interchangeably. I t may be a matter of semantics, but from a legal as well as an industry point of view, the word safety implies that by using such equipment you will not suffer anv hodilv harm. Unfortunatelv. -. thir is nut true.Thedamage begins ineront1) upon contact. You then have seconds to minimize the injury. Thia is why we refer m our products as emerfienc) equiprnenl. The ANSI Standard uses this terminology alsu. Yes, the semnds start ticking the instant a chemical comes in contact with an unsuspecting victim. The extent of the injury, from this point in time, is up to several, often interrelated factors, such as: ~
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1. How accessible is the emergeney equipment device? 2. How quickly did the victim get to the unit? 3. What configuration of emergency equipment is it? 4. Is it a t least adequate for this emergeucy?
John Bronaugh received a Bachelor of Science Degree m Marketing from Mlami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1959 in 1982, he earned his Masters in Buamess Adminiswation at Xavier Unlversw, Cincinnati. Ohio Bronaugh joined Haws Drink%! Fauoet Company of Berkeley. Cahfornla. two years ago as their Natlonal Sales Manager tor the United States and Canada. Riar to mming to Haws, he had over 10 years of field regional sales management experk ence with two national plumbing prOduct manvfaotusrs
A18
Journal of Chemlcal Education
5. Was it installed per the manufacturer's instructions? 6. When was this piece of equipment last tested, and was it properly maintained? 7. Was he or she properly trained in its use'? 8. Is someone else aware of the emergency and are they assisting? 9. Has professional medical aid been summoned?
For most contaminants, the best possible and immediate first-aid treatment is adequate flushing with potable water. Chemical contaminants in the eyes are not only the most common injuries but, I believe, the worst type. Most medical experts agree that the fust 15 seconds are the most critical in order to prevent severe and possibly permanent damage to one of the most sensitive and irreplaceable parts of the body-the
Figure 1 Plumbed eyewash equipment.
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The ANSI Standard provides a listing and definition for six different types of emergency eyewash and drench shower equipment. They are as follows: 1. plumbed and self-contained eyewash equipment 2. (plumbed) eyelface wash equipment 3. emergeney showers 4. combination units 5. hand-held drench hoses 6. personal eyewash equipment
Let us look briefly at the four common types. I will first give the ANSI definition and then a brief description. Plumbed eyewash-"a device used to irrigate and flush the eyes." Specifically, this usually consists of a bowl with two water orifices a t each side angled toward the center. The water flow is initiated by an instant-on, stay-open hall-type valve actuated by a push flag andlor foot treadle located close to the front or one side of the unit. This piece of emergency equipment is probably the most commonly seen in laboratories (Fig. 1). (Plumbed) eyelface wash-"a device used to irrigate and flush both the face and the eyes." This fixture allows the flushing of the eyes and the face simultaneously using a face-spray ring in conjunction with the eye-
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Figure 2. (Plumbed)eyelface wash equipment. wash heads, large eyelface wash heads, or multiple heads. I would pick this type of unit over the evewash onlv. Solashine chemicals, as we afknow, are not limiteito just the eyes (Fig. 2). Emergency shower-"a unit that enables the user to have water cascading over the entire body." Sometimes known as a drench or deluge shower, the shower head pours a
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(Continued on page A24)
minimum of 30 gallons of water per minute over the victim using an instant-on, stayopen hall valve that is activated by either a pull rod or chain and ring. This piece of equipment is also excellent for extinguishing clothing fires since it drenches the entire body. It should not he used as an eyewash because there is too much water cascading downward (Fig. 3). Combination unit-"a unit combining a drench shower with an eye or eyelface wash." Often, this piece of emergency equipment is considered the most complete first-aid station. It is a multipurpose unit designed so all components can he operated independently or simultaneously from a common fixture line (Fig. 4). Which type unit should you choose? There are no hard and fast rules. Generally two main considerations must he evaluated: What are the characteristics of the specific hazard? In other wards, how dangerous is it, and what types of hazards are present, such as acids, solvents, alkalis, oils and greases, and radioactive or highly toxic materials. What is the number of personnel that can be present in the hazardous area? How does the ANSI Standard relate to the previously mentioned four pieces of emergency equipment? According to the ANSI Standard, the location requirements of the eyewashes, eyelface washes, emergency showers, and combination units are the same. They should he accessible within 10 seconds and not he over 100 feet away from the hazard. To me, this is most important. The effectiveness of any piece of emergency equipment is in direct relation to the speed in which thev are activated. Remember. the most import;tnt aspect in the treament'of a chemical burn is obtaining f i s t aid within the f i t 15 seconds. One way to understand where you should place a piece of emergency equipment is to stand a t the center of the potentially dangerous activity blindfolded. Now, can you reach that unit within 10 seconds, and is it less than 100feet away? Is the piece of emergency equipment itself accessible from three directions? Here are some other practical considerations:
1. There should he a safe distance between the emergency unit and anything electrical. 2. The units should he clearly marked with signs. The area should he properly lighted. The ANSI Standard requires this. Paint the wall and floor area around the unit for 3 feet in all directions a bright color uncommon to your lab. Inspect it regularly with stiff reprimands for anybody who ohs t r u m this area with any clutter. In remote areas or in hazardous locations where there are very few people, an alarm system should he installed so that when the shower or eyewash is used, a hell, horn, andlor light is activated in order t o summon help. Alarms can he wired to sound locally
A24
Journal of Chemical ~ducatlon
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Figure 3. Emergency shower.
or remotely in a main control room or security office. 3. The emergency equipment should he on the same Level as the potentially hazardous area but never separated hv walls that could nmvide a maze eifect or doors that eduld unknowinely be locked. If practical, emergency equipment should he near an exit in case of an explosion. This is why you often see a drench shower above an outside laboratory door. Emergency aid personnel (firemen, medical technicians, ete.) would have quicker and easier access to the victim: 4. Provide for adequate potahle water. Wherever possible, add strainers to the lines to remove potentially trouhlesome particles or debris. Quite often, remodeling or new construction is the direct cause of debris being in the Lines. It only takes a particle the size of 20 microns to damage the eye tissue. 5. Once these fixtures are installed, proper maintenance is mandatory. The ANSI Standard states that emergency equipment should he tested weekly. This does two things: i t verifies that the equipment is operational, and it flushes the lines to insure clean water. 6. It is important to keep a record of the date and the insoectar's initials. A tar should he attaihed to unit & ~- each -~~~~~ .. show this information. Units in a lab. likeanywhereelse, are subject tovandalism. Check for this along with leaks due to loose connections, ete. Repair or replace broken or worn parts immediately. Specification, maintenance, and parts manuals should he fded in a place for mainte~
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F l w 4. Combination unit.
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nance personnel to facilitare rapid repair. If this cannot he done quickly, put up warning signs about this inoperative unit and state where the next dosest one is located. Place a temporary self-contained unit a t the site. Provide adequately sized floor drains. While the victim is of prime importance, the flow of 30 eallons of water per minute from a &inch shower can cause quite a lot of damage and presents a hazard by itself. Train allnersonnelnot onlv on how to eet to th; unit hut how t o i s e it. The - ~ ~ . " units look simple enough but, under emergency conditions, seconds count. This is an impormt link. Do not assume that just because you know how to use a piece of emergency equipment that others do also. The ANSI Standard requires training for all employees who might be exposed to a chemical splaeh. ~
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9. Maintain a relationship with emergency equipment sales personnel. This can he valuahle in assisting you in product selection, its placement, personnel training, and maintenance of each unit. 10. None of the emergency equipment is a substitute for proper primary protective devices such as eye and face protectors and protective clothing. 11. Last, hut certainly not least, install and use onlv those nroducts that meet or exceed ;he AXSI Standard. This not only prutects "our employees, but also protect3 you from unnerersary i i ahility exposure. I realize that all of this sounds logical, basic, and maybe even boring, hut how many areas can you think of at your workplace that could he better protected or where installations of emergency equipment should be considered? There are some common features for most of this type of emergency equipment that you should look for: The stay-open valve is a must. The ANSI Standard requires it for three reasons: it allows the injured person to use hoth hands to open the eyelids for thorough flushing; it also allows the removal of clothing, if necessary; and it will not shut off prematurely (the unit should continue to flush for 15 minutes). You should look for a soft, gentle, and regulated flow of water in eyewash or eye1 face wash fountains. The unit should deliver the flow equally from hoth eyewash heads, so thst streams of water into the eyes do not injure the soft eye tissue. A flow control should he part of the unit to compensate for variations in water supply pressure. The ANSI Standard requires that the spray heads he protected from airborne particles. Thereare two types of dust covers. One covers just each spray head while the other covers the entire unit. Both types of covers are designed to he automatically removed when the stay-open valve is activated. Major Guldellnes on How To Select Emergency Equlprnenl The traric pnnsiple is: optimum emploge~ pn>tcctwu using the hest nvnilnhlp equipment. Initial purehnlennd installatimcmta are minor items and r h d d nwcr influence your d e r i w n making. Buy the best equipmpnt in quality . . and reputation. 'l'akr the time to compare manufacturers, including availability of repair parts. The ideal time to plan, select, and install emergency equipment is when new facilities are in the design stage. The entire system can then he evaluated and considered. Here is a little hackground into the ANSI Standards that I have referred to throughout this article. Just 10 years ago, the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Group of the Industrial Safety Equipment Association
A26
Journal
of Chemical Education
hegan to work on this standard. The group was composed of personnel from most of the companies in the United States who manufactured this type of equipment and were knowledgeable in its design, installation, and use. What prompted this was an urgent need for a minimum equipment perfarmance standard. The purpose was to eliminate duplication as well as conflicting standards and form a single, nationally accredited standard. At that time, OSHA only had general terms. Three categories were addressed by the group for each of the six pieces of emergency equipment: (1) performance criteria, (2) maintenance and testing, and (3) installation. What was finally approved and published on June 12,1981, was the "American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment", s 24-page hooklet. I t is better known as ANSI 2358.1-1981. I t is a voluntary standard and represents a general agreement among not only most manufacturers, hut also the scientific, technical, and governmental organizations. This is why you will find that various federal egencies, including federal OSHA, most state OSHA's, and other local regulatory bodies, constantly and consistently referring to this standard. Yon can obtain a copy by contacting: American National Standards Institute, Inc. 1430 Broadway New York, NY 10018 Attn: Sales Dept. (212) 354-3300. The current cost is 59.00 each ($7.00 plus 52.00 postage and handling.) I t is my understanding that the present standard is being reviewed and may undergo minor revision. A closer look at the ANSI Standard will reveal how it is organized. Each page of the standard is laid out in a two-column format. The left column is labeled "Standard Requirements". I t is printed in bold type and is the standard. The right column is labeled "Explanatory Information" and is for the purpose of clarifying the standard. Information contained on the right side is not part of the Standard. First, the definitions of the equipment and terminology are given. Next, follows the basic Standard for all six major types of emergency equipment. There are also five pages of illustrations. The last page is the Appendix section, which briefly discusses four items: (1) delivered water temperature, (2) water capacity, (3) primary protective devices, and (4) alarm devices. These four items are included for information purposes only and are not part of the Standard. Recently, there has been a lot of talk and questions about delivered water temperature. The wording on delivered water temperature in the 1981 ANSI Standard reads as follows:
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In the hodv of the ANSI 2358.1-1981. delivered water temperatures !'or emergency shower and eyewash unrta have not heen specifled. Thra is not to suggest that this important aspect should he ignored; however, a standard of this type cannot predict the atmospheric conditions of each area where units are installed. I t shall he the responsibility of each specifying au~
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thority to determine the delivered water temperature that will be required in an area, not only to provide the flow of water as required, but also to maintain it at a temperature that will be safe for the user. Delivered water temperature should not be at extremes that might be expected to discourage the unit's effective use under emergency conditions. A comfortable range is 15 Y - 3 5 "C (60 'F-95 OF). In circumstances where chemical reaction is accelerated by water temperature, a medical advisor should be consulted for the optimum temperature for each applieation. The reason for this concern is that, under extreme conditions, the shock of dumping lots of very cold water or hot water onto the body could be as serious as the splashing of the chemical and its affects. In hot climates, water standing in long runs of iron piping exposed to the sun can get hot enough to cause first-degree burns. Even if the water temperatures are not that extreme, they can be uncomfortable enough to cause the injuredpersonto terminate his or her first-aid treatment before he or she has adequately flushed the chemicals. Also, this potential situation in the worker's mind might convince him or her not to use the emergency equipment.
General References Haws Emergency h u i p m e n t Catalog
#EE4187.
April,
19S7
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Fountain8 and Emergency Showers"; Chern. Eng. 1975,
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(Sept. 15). 147-150. Weaver, L. A,. Ill. "Eyewashes and Showers: Enswing Effectiveness''; Omupofionol Heolth Safety 1983, (A"&), 13-19. Wohlen. John Paul. "Using Emergency Wash Stations to Reduce 1njudea":Plont Eng. 1982,(Aw. 19).
Presented September 3. 1987. at the Safety Products Symposium 01 Me 194th American Chemical Soclety National Meeting in New Orleans, Lauislana.
Volume 66
Number 1
January 1989
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