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| 10 Emergency Eyewash Best Practices |
A chemical eye injury is something to avoid at all costs; it's a painful and frightening experience and one that may leave a person blinded for life. So if your workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals and other substances, it's imperative that you do everything you can to ensure that your emergency eyewash stations meet the required safety standards to best protect workers. Here are some suggestions from Kelly Piotti, Product Manager of Emergency Eyewash for Honeywell Safety Products (HSP):
1. Keep the doors open. Don't place an emergency eyewash station behind a closed or locked door. While the station may be used infrequently, remember that when it's needed, someone's vision is on the line. And every second counts.
2. Don't hang the unit at an angle. This can interfere with the proper flow of flushing fluid and may force an injured person to stand in an uncomfortable position to flush properly for between 15 and 20 minutes.
3. Don't block access. Avoid storing anything underneath or in front of an eyewash unit, which can block an injured worker's ability to reach or stand comfortably at the station.
4. Watch the fluid's temperature. Don't allow the flushing fluid to become too hot or too cold. Storing eyewash in extremely hot or cold environments can cause flushing fluid's temperature to rise or fall outside of ANSI's stated standard for tepid water. Flushing eyes with scalding or ice-cold solution can cause further damage to an already compromised eye.
5. Fill the unit properly. Avoid mistakes when mixing flushing fluid. ANSI requires that the unit be filled with flushing fluid or the pre-packaged fluid provided by the manufacturer. Always prepare fluid according to manufacturer's instructions.
6. Clean thoroughly after use. Don't forget to clean, disinfect, rinse and completely dry the unit after each activation, including hoses, nozzles and nozzle covers (this doesn't apply to sealed-fluid cartridges). Any lingering cleaning chemicals or particles may harm the next user's eyes. When the wrong chemicals mix, the fluid may turn brown or another color and colored fluid is never usable.
7. Don't cover the unit. Don't place a plastic bag or other makeshift cover over the unit to keep dust or particles out. This can hinder an injured person's ability to properly activate the unit in a single motion and start the flow in one second or less.
8. Mind the shelf life. Avoid using expired flushing fluid. Like any standing water, eyewash fluid can grow bacteria that may be harmful to eyes. Be sure that someone is responsible for checking stations' expiration dates and refilling/replacing them according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Generally, according to ANSI Z358.1-2009, weekly flushing is required for plumbed stations, every three to six months for tank-style fluid stations and every two to three years for sealed-fluid cartridges and bottles.
9. Install the unit correctly. Don't install an eyewash unit without carefully following the manufacturer's instructions. Stations vary and have precise installation instructions to ensure proper performance, including installation height, the rate of fluid flow, required spray pattern and much more.
10. Don't alter or tamper with the unit. Again, the manufacturer's instructions are the only ones that should be followed. Don't try to re-route hoses, change nozzles or otherwise compromise the station's performance.
Eyes are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. By understanding how to use emergency eyewash properly, your facility can ensure greater workplace eye safety. And that's a clear benefit everyone can see.
Can your workers do the Chemical Splash Dash? Be sure they can, with this Safety Talk from SafetySmart. The Talk comes with a PowerPoint demonstration, audio and quiz. And you can use these suggestions to help plan your meeting.
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Imagine having a chemical burning your eyes and trying to use this emergency eyewash station. What a mess! (Naval Safety Center) |
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| Nonfatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Declined in 2010 |
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers declined slightly to a rate of 3.5 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers in 2010, according to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The rate for 2009 was 3.6 per 100 equivalent full-time workers.
Nearly 3.1 million injuries and illnesses were reported among private sector industry employers across the US in 2010, down from 3.3 million reported in 2009.
"We are encouraged by the reported decline in incidence rates for workplace injuries and illnesses, which is reflective of the joint effort of government, business, unions and other organizations," says Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. "Nevertheless, 3.1 million injuries and illnesses in the workplace is too high. Serious injuries and illnesses can knock a working family out of the middle class."
Solis says workers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to earn a paycheck.
"We remain concerned that more workers are injured in the health care and social assistance industry sector than in any other, including construction and manufacturing, and this group of workers had one of the highest rates of injuries and illness at 5.2 cases for every 100 workers," she says.
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Related story: US Workplace Fatalities for 2010 Similar to Previous Year
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