What to bear in mind when using emergency showers and eye wash stations
Serious skin injuries such as burns and chemical burns are not uncommon, particularly in accidents within the chemical industry. Easily accessible emergency showers are essential for an efficient rescue chain. There are a number of points to bear in mind here.
Below you will find answers to important questions that companies ask themselves in this context.
Despite their great importance for safety, there is sometimes uncertainty in many manufacturing plants and laboratories regarding the use of emergency showers. This concerns both the requirements that must be observed during procurement, installation and operation, and employees’ understanding of how to use them. All companies that handle hazardous substances should therefore regularly address the issue of emergency showers – that is, carry out risk assessments, check the condition and functionality of the protective measures, and involve staff.
For what types of accidents are emergency showers used as a first-aid measure?
Emergency showers are used, particularly in laboratories and manufacturing facilities, as a first-aid measure in the event of accidents in which people have been exposed to acute burns or contamination. These include, amongst others:
chemical accidents: If someone comes into contact with corrosive or toxic chemicals, an emergency shower can be used to quickly rinse the substance off the skin and minimise the effects. When handling aggressive substances, such as acids and alkalis, an emergency shower is usually provided as a first-aid measure.
flames and burns: Flames are extinguished by the water from the emergency shower. In the case of burns caused by hot surfaces, liquids or vapours, an emergency shower can help to cool the affected area and relieve the pain.
Eye injuries: If foreign bodies or hazardous substances enter the eyes, an emergency shower can be used to rinse the eyes and reduce potential damage.
Dust or particle contamination, extreme soiling: If someone comes into contact with dust or particles that are hazardous to health, or with extreme soiling, an emergency shower can be used to remove the substances from the skin and prevent further contamination.
It is important to note that emergency showers are intended solely as a first-aid measure and are not a substitute for medical treatment. After using an emergency shower, a doctor should always be consulted to determine what further action to take.
Is it compulsory to provide emergency showers?
In laboratories, there is a mandatory requirement for emergency showers. Regulations specifically tailored to laboratories require the use of body and eye wash stations. Furthermore, these regulations set out in detail the minimum requirements that emergency showers in laboratories must meet and how regular inspections should be carried out.
Manufacturing facilities are also required to put first-aid measures in place. The provision of emergency showers is particularly recommended for work involving hazardous chemicals. When operating a hazardous substances storage facility, the decision not to provide eye and body showers must be assessed as part of the risk assessment and justified in the documentation.
What requirements must emergency showers meet?
The specific requirements that first-aid emergency showers must meet may vary depending on the country, region and sector. These can be found in the relevant national and international standards, as well as in the guidelines issued by the respective competent associations and institutions. In the United States, for example, these are set out in ANSI Z-358.1, the ‘American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment’.
Let us advise you on the requirements that apply in the United Kingdom.
The following requirements and recommendations for permanently installed emergency showers are set out in DIN EN 15154:
Water supply
A constant flow of water for at least 15 minutes
Water quality
Drinking water or water of comparable quality
Water temperature
Lukewarm water between 15 and 37 °C
Quality assurance
Materials must not affect water quality
Labelling
Permanent and clearly visible marking
What should be taken into account when installing and commissioning emergency showers?
Simply purchasing an emergency shower is not enough. There are also many points to bear in mind during installation and commissioning.
The location of an emergency shower must be specified in the risk assessment. It should be chosen so that the emergency shower is placed near potential sources of danger, ensuring it can be reached quickly in an emergency. It should be clearly visible, easy to locate and accessible along a normally used route within the hazard area, without being obstructed by potential barriers (such as steps, ramps or other obstacles).
At the installation site, it must be ensured that there is a sufficient water supply to operate the emergency shower. There are various aspects to consider here, depending on whether the shower has a fixed water connection or a storage tank, and whether it is installed outdoors or indoors. For outdoor installation, a heated version of the emergency shower is necessary to prevent the water from freezing.
DIN EN 15154 recommends that the water in the emergency shower be at a lukewarm temperature of between 15 and 37 °C.
There are various types of emergency showers, such as eye wash stations, body showers or combined showers. They are activated, for example, by means of a push-button panel or a pull rod. Configurable emergency showers designed specifically for industrial use (such as tank and thermal emergency showers) can be individually adapted to operational conditions through additional features, such as lighting, alarm systems and collision protection. There should be a sufficient number of emergency showers to ensure adequate provision in the event of an emergency. This must be determined in the risk assessment. All emergency showers must be checked regularly (at least once a month or in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications) to ensure they are in working order. Furthermore, regular maintenance and cleaning is recommended. Employees must be informed of the locations of the emergency showers and trained in the correct behaviour in an emergency as well as in the operation of the emergency shower. Records must be kept of the installation, functional testing and maintenance of the emergency shower.
Emergency showers can play an effective role in first aid. They enable the affected areas of the body to be rinsed immediately, thereby helping to minimise acute damage and prevent long-term adverse effects. For this reason, emergency showers are an important part of the rescue chain in many laboratories and industrial facilities.
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