A Brief Guide To Safety Showers & Eye Wash Stations

Protection from potential problems resulting from working with various hazardous materials like biological, chemicals and other liquids, in labs and factories is of high importance. That’s why safety measures have been implemented in such sites and industries so that emergency cases are quickly resolved.

Equipment comprising of several important elements is installed near these facilities so that if a case of severe contamination ever happens, quick action is taken in response. Such safety equipment usually refers to showers and eye wash stations. These are designed for use if you find yourself in any danger of contaminating substances. Here’s how these work and the basics of each you need familiarize yourself with.

What are safety showers and eye wash stations?

Safety shower is designed to deliver powerful flushes of water at a certain volume; made to wash the entire body of a person who’s using it. According to certain standards, the shower has to have a minimum flow of 75 liters per minute. The eye wash stations are water delivery devices designed to clean eyes from potential eye contaminants. The flow of these devices must be at minimum 1.5 liters/minute. There can also be a combination of both devices, which is a characteristic of more sophisticated and highly equipped labs and factories.

What’s the procedure of using these devices?

You’d normally use these devices if you accidentally get in contact with chemicals that are poisonous or contaminating in any way. Chemicals are no game, which means you should get in the safety shower ASAP. Let there be no confusion; you’ll still need to call the emergency. The safety shower and eye wash stations are just to ease the process and wash the first and most dangerous wave of poison on your skin and from eyes. Plus, if you leave the substance on your skin long enough, it will definitely burn it and permanently scar it. So, here’s how the procedure goes and what you could do on your own.

• The first and most important thing is not to panic. If you panic, you’ll waste valuable time and worsen the situation.
• Get help. Shout if you have to so that someone comes and assists you to the safety shower and eye wash stations.
• Once under the flush of water, open your eyes wide and use your hands to keep the eyelids as open as possible so that water washes everything in. Stay under the flush for 15 minutes the minimum.
• Get emergency medical help. You should ask for treatment for chemical exposures, as these injuries require specific treatments.