Ames Procedural
Requirements
APR 1700.1
Effective Date: October 4, 2007
Expiration Date: October 4, 2012
COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY
Chapter 18 - Emergency Eyewash & Shower Equipment
18.4.1 Supervisors
18.5.1 Emergency Eyewash And/Or Shower Equipment
18.5.2 Equipment Selection
18.5.3 Emergency Eyewash And Shower Location
18.5.4 Maintenance
18.5.5 Equipment Installation And Performance
18.1 Overview
The chapter provides requirements on the use, maintenance, selection, and installation of emergency eyewash and shower equipment.
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18.2 References
- 29 CFR 1910.151, Medical Services and First Aid
- CCR Title 8, Article 109, Section 5162, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment
- CCR Title 8, Article 10, Section 5185, Changing and Charging of Storage Batteries
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18.3 Definitions
Combination Unit: A unit that combines a shower with an eyewash or eye/face wash, or with a drench hose, or with both, into one common assembly.
Emergency Shower: A unit that enables a user to have water cascading over the entire body.
Eye/Face Wash: A device used to irrigate and flush both the face and the eyes.
Eyewash: A device used to irrigate and flush the eyes.
Faucet-Mounted Eyewash System: A device that is connected to a faucet and used to irrigate and flush the eyes.
Hand-Held Drench Hose: A flexible hose connected to a water supply and used to irrigate and flush eyes, face, and body area.
Injurious Hazardous Materials: Hazardous Material is defined in the California Health and Safety Code as, ÒAny material that because of its quantity, concentration or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety...Ó These materials include those that are corrosive, severely irritating, can cause permanent tissue damage, or are toxic by absorption. Some examples of injurious hazardous materials used at Ames include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and ammonia, as well as paints, glues, adhesives, sealants, fuels, and other chemical mixtures or substances.
Personal Eyewash: A supplementary eyewash that supports plumbed units, self contained units, or both, by delivering immediate flushing fluid.
Plumbed Eyewash: An eyewash unit permanently connected to a source of potable water.
Potable Water: Water that is suitable for drinking.
Routinely Handled (as in, Significant Amounts of Injurious Hazardous Materials Routinely Handled): As general guidance, the daily use of a mixture or substance constitutes routine handling. This is not defined in any of the regulatory or consensus standards because of the diversity of circumstances from workplace to workplace.
Self-Closing Valve: A valve that closes automatically when released.
Self-Contained Eyewash: An eyewash device that contains its own flushing fluid and must be refilled or replaced after use.
Self-Contained Shower: A shower that contains its own flushing fluid and must be refilled or replaced after use.
Significant Amounts (as in, Significant Amounts of Injurious Hazardous Materials): This is not defined in any of the regulatory or consensus standards because of the diversity of circumstances from workplace to workplace. General guidance is areas where breakable containers (one liter or more) are handled outside of their original shipping cartons; e.g., glass bottles of substance that are corrosive, severely irritating, can cause permanent tissue damage, or are toxic by absorption.
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18.4 Responsibilities
18.4.1 Supervisors
Suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing the eyes and body provided within the work area for immediate use where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed t injuries hazardous materials.
Supervisors are responsible:
- Ensure access to emergency eyewash and showers is unobstructed at all times.
- Ensure that emergency shower and eyewash equipment are tested and maintained in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
- Ensure that employees who work in these areas received timely orientation on the location, proper use and maintenance of emergency eyewash and shower equipment.
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18.5 General Requirements
18.5.1 Emergency Eyewash and/or Shower Equipment
Emergency eyewash and/or shower equipment is required under the following circumstances:
- Wet chemistry laboratories.
- Lead acid battery charging stations.
- Waste water treatment facilities.
- Hazardous waste handling facilities.
- Chlorination treatment facilities and operations (swimming pools).
- An location where corrosives, <3ph or >10 are stored, handled or used.
- Any material that because of its quantity, concentration, physical or chemical characteristics, or manner of use poses a significant hazard to eyes or skin.
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18.5.2 Equipment Selection
1. General
All new emergency eyewash and shower equipment must meet the requirements of ANSI Z358.1-2004.
- Plumbed untis are required for all operations listed under Section 18.7.
- Existing operations listed under 18.7 that do not have plumbed equipment must have it installed by Jan 1, 2008.
- Continued use of sef-contained units are permitted upon completion of Ames deviation/waiver process.
- The preferred equipment is a combination deluge shower an foot-operated eyewash fountain that fully drenches a contaminated person and also allows free use of hands to assist opening the eyes while washing them.
3. Self-Contained Units.
- In areas where protable water is not available, self-contained eyewash or shower equipment is acceptable.
- Self-contained eyewashes shall be capable of delivering to the eyes not less than 1.5 liters perminute for 15 minutes.
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18.5.3 Emergency Eyewash & Shower Location
- The location of this emergency equipment shall be as close to the hazard as possible, in accessible areas requiring no more than 10 seconds to reach, within a travel distance no greater than 100 feet from the hazard, and no travel through doors or use of stairs. Site or operation-specific circumstances may require closer installation (e.g., large amounts of corrosives in open containers).
- The location shall not become hazardous when the eyewash or shower is used (e.g., near open electrical contacts).
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18.5.4 Maintenance
- Plumbed eyewash and shower equipment shall be inspected and activated at least monthly to flush the line and verify proper operation
- Self-contained equipment (eyewash, shower or combination) and personal eyewashes shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturerÕs instructions and ANSI Z358.1-2004.
- Activate eyewashes weekly to check basic function and availability of water.
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18.5.5 Equipment Installation and Performance
- Eyewash and shower equipment shal meet or exceed the installation and performance requirements as specified in ANSI Z358.1-2004..
- All eyewash and shower equipment shall be inspected and tested upon initial installation to assure their performance complies with ANSI Z358.1-1998.
- Eyewash nozzles shall be protected from airborne contaminants and their removal shall not require a separate motion by the operator when activating the unit.
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