Testing times ahead for decontamination solutions

Craig Yates discusses best practice when it comes to maintenance of safety showers and eyebaths in the lab

WORKING in hazardous environments or when working in an environment where there is a potential to come into contact with harmful substances, health and safety standards include the requirement to install an effective drenching device whether this is for the eye, face or whole body.

When it comes to the safety of personnel, just installing a piece of emergency equipment is not enough. Testing for continual operation and functionality of safety showers out in the field or on site is vital. It takes just once for testing to be overlooked and workers’ lives can be put in danger. But also educating those who may need to use them is just as important.

There is a requirement to ensure that safety eyewashes and showers supply clean, potable water and are in proper working order and it must be made clear who is responsible for carrying out inspection, testing and maintenance.

Maintenance recommendations include:
• Testing the proper operation of emergency eyewash and shower units on a weekly basis
• Conducting annual cleaning, inspection and compliance assessment for every emergency unit
• Keeping tanks and mechanical parts clean and lubricated, including internal inspections of items such as immersion heater elements.
• Ensuring that each unit is appropriately tagged for documentation of location and testing requirements.

As for the personnel, do they know where the emergency facilities are located? For example, if working outside, it can be time critical that they are aware that a facility is actually available out on-site rather than thinking they have to run to a main building. This also reduces any further spread of the contamination.  And of course they also need to be trained in how to use the emergency facility.

Personnel also need to be fully briefed on the potential danger of the hazards within which they are working or working with. For example, those in close contact with chemicals and biological hazards need to know and understand exposure limits and what to do when it comes to decontaminating clothing and the body.

When it comes to the placement of emergency eyewash and shower unit facilities they must be installed in work areas where there is high potential for accidents involving corrosive, irritant or toxic substance absorption through skin and eyes. The area also needs to be well-lit area with clear signage.

And finally, every second counts. The location should be no more than a maximum of 10 seconds travel time for an injured person to access. This is approximately 17 meters. Therefore, there should be nothing to obstruct the pathways leading up to an emergency shower or items stored on top of an eyewash sink.  However, where operatives are working with extremely hazardous materials an emergency facility needs to be installed immediately adjacent to where they are working.

There must also be a tagging process put in place whereby workers themselves can check that an emergency shower has been properly tested and report anything they believe to be unsafe.

For any organisation looking to upgrade or fit new emergency shower facilities, a comprehensive risk assessment needs to be carried out. Several important points need to be considered, including:
• Don’t settle for products just because of price. Ensure the quality and performance of the unit is suitable for your needs and the needs of your personnel.
• Check that the water supply pipework is capable of delivering 75 lpm.
• On self contained units, check that the correct temperature is being maintained, this being under 25°C and above 15.5°C. If the temperature is too hot it can increase the harmful effects of chemicals on the skin. Too cold and it can cause hypothermia plus the correct drenching time may be insufficient as the user will not want to stay under cold water for the recommended 15 minutes!
• Check on the disposal of the contaminated water. Not only does it need to be disposed of carefully, any pool of water collected on the floor can be a hazard in itself, creating a slippery or icy surface.
• Check on the size of the employees and check the area that you want to designate for a shower unit and ascertain whether it will provide a suitably sized emergency facility. With the average size of the UK population increasing there needs to be adequate room to accommodate necessary movement when using the shower. Struggling to quickly strip off contaminated clothing in a restricted area is very difficult, uncomfortable and can exacerbate the problem, especially as part of the space is taken up with an eyebath facility. The recommended ANSI standard of a 34 inch (86.4 cm) cubicle diameter is adequate but not ideal and by increasing the size of a decontamination unit it will provide better protection.
• Check the position of the pipe work feeding the shower. With the changing climate, exposed pipe work that would have normally survived the UK winter is no longer adequate and will not meet recommended standards. This will mean either re-positioning the shower unit or lagging pipework.

As an aid to testing facilities the following should be applied and logged. It must be remembered that regular testing and activation makes the difference between meeting minimum requirements for the installed units and having units that work efficiently in the event of an emergency.

It is recommended that all units be activated on a weekly basis to check that they are in operational condition, clear sedimentation that could clog the water supply line and to flush stagnant water from the plumbed fixtures to reduce the chance of microbial hazards. The test should be documented with dates and initials on unit tag. Facilities managers are responsible to ensure an appropriate tag is on all units.

There should also be monthly tests and inspection. A visual inspection of the unit should take place, looking for leaks or pipe damage and proper placement of protective covers. It should be done prior to testing in order to avoid further damage to the unit and risk of injury to users. Ensure that the unit is free of any obstructions.

The unit should be activated. Ensure that the water flow is continuous, evaluate that the unit can maintain flow for 15 minutes, and is not injurious to the user's eye or face. Valve actuators must activate water flow in one second or less and controlled flow of flushing fluid must be provided to both eyes simultaneously. Sanitise water supply through monthly flushing. In order to relieve the unit of any rust and other pipe build-up, flush the unit until the water runs clear. Tests should again be documented with dates and initials on unit tag.

During an annual inspection water should be emptied completely from the safety shower header tanks, which should be internally cleaned to remove any build up of algae.  Directional signage should be in place and clearly visible. All electrics should be inspected to ensure they are fully operational and the test documented with dates and initials on unit tag.