Deluge showers

Deluge showers should be located near points of egress from areas of potential exposure. They should provide a minimum flow of 30 gpm. 

Quick drench Facilities for quickly drenching the body should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is a possibility of exposure. [Note It is intended that these facilities provide a sufScient quantity or flow of water to quickly remove the substance from any body areas likely to be exposed. The actual determination of what constitutes an adequate quick drench facility depends on the specific circumstances. In certain instances, a deluge shower should be readily available, whereas in others, the availability of water from a sink or hose could be considered adequate.]... 

Certain equipment and operational items common to the entire organization (e.g., fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, deluge showers, eyewash stations, and fire alarm systems) and maintenance of these items should be just as much an institutional responsibility as provision of utilities. 

In most cases, flushing the area of the body affected by a splash of a liquid chemical with copious amounts of low pressure water for 15 to 30 minutes is the best immediate treatment. The best source would be an eyewash station or deluge shower, but in an emergency, if these are not available, any other source of running water (at low pressure) should be used. If the exposure is to the eyes, check for contact lenses and remove them if found and if possible. Then hold the eyes open while they are being flushed with water. Any clothing or jewelry in... 

If both the eyes and portions of the body were exposed, there should preferably be a combination eyewash and deluge shower unit available. If not, take the victim to the deluge shower and tilt the head back, holding the eyelids widely open, and wash the entire body. 

The laboratory should be supplied with a sink. The plumbing shall be sized to accommodate a deluge shower and eyewash station. With average water pressure, this would normally be a one-inch line or larger. 

The laboratory shall be equipped with an eyewash station and a deluge shower. 

Other unnecessary obstacles should be avoided as well, such as low-hanging signs, water fountains, desks, chairs, tables, etc., and similar devices which may protrude into a corridor, or even safety devices such as deluge showers with low hanging chains which could strike a person in the face in a partially dimmed or darkened corridor. The corridors must have a minimum of 80 inches of headroom. Door closers and stops caimot reduce this to less than 78 inches. Between the heights of 27 inches and 80 inches, objects cannot protrude into the corridor by more than 4 inches, approximately the length of a door knob. 

The location of electrical circuits and electrically operated equipment in a room should be such that they are unlikely to become wet and they should not be in an area susceptible to condensation or where a user might be in contact with moisture. As unlikely as it may appear, instances have been observed where equipment has been located and electrical circuits have been installed where water from deluge showers would inundate them. For some equipment, such as refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioning units, moisture is likely to be present due to condensation, and these equipment items must be well grounded. 

Turning on the eyewash should require minimal manual dexterity. Any number of mechanisms to turn them on are possible but perhaps the most popular is a simple paddle that the injured person can push aside. The eyewash should remain on continuously with no additional effort after the initial activation, but if an automatic cutoff is provided, it should not activate for at least 15 minutes or until 6 or more gallons of water have been dehvered. Many eyewash stations are mounted as part of the plumbing over a sink. This is convenient but not essential. In the following section on deluge showers, it wiU be pointed out that in the case of eye injuries, safety is more important than spilled water, which can be mopped up, so that floor drains are not strictly required for safety shower installations. Preferably, eyewash stations and deluge showers should be installed as a package since it is likely that if the eyes and face have been exposed to chemicals, other portions of the body quite possibly may have been contaminated as well. 

A major problem with most eyewash stations and deluge showers is that they are usually connected to the cold water line. The ANSI standard requires that the water be tepid but does not define what tepid is. Typically, tap water temperatures are in the 60"F to 70"F (15.5" to 21 C) temperature range, but in colder climates can be much less during the winter. Water at temperatures in the 50 s or lower can be painful itself, and in extreme cases can cause the injured person to go into shock. Although relatively few eyewash installations are capable of conveniently providing it, lukewarm water with temperatures close to body temperatures between 90" and 95"F (32 to 35"C) would be ideal. 

The demands of a safety shower on the water supply are much more severe than for an eyewash formtain. Their altemate name, deluge shower, is not idly applied. The water supply should be able to provide a minimum of 20 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes. The water pressure should not be... 

Heating baths should be in durable, nonbreakable containers and set up on a firm support so that they will not be likely to tip over. They should not be placed near flammable and combustible material, including wood and paper which, if exposed to continuing heat over a sufficient period of time, could reach kindling temperatures, or near sources of water (particularly deluge showers) which could cause the bath liquid to splatter violently from the container. In most cases, the bath temperatures are hi enough to cause severe bums. If it is necessary to move the full container, it should be done while the liquid is cool, again to avoid the risk of bums. 

Eyewash station, deluge shower available in the laboratory... 

Everyone should be familiarwith the location anduseofaUequipment in their laboratory area. As noted above, this includes means to initiate an evacuation (fire alarm pull stations, etc.), fire extinguishers, fire blankets, eyewash stations, deluge showers, first aid kits, spiU kit materials, respiratory protective devices, and any other materials normally kept in the area for emergency response. 

An eyewash facility (preferably one combined with a deluge shower) is to be readily available. 

Deluge shower located so water will not splash on electrical equipment or circuits... 

Deluge shower available, checked at least semiannually... 

Treating injuries immediately can reduce their severity and prevent further injury or illness. Trained personnel, who know the correct treatment, should administer first aid and maintain records of treatments. Each facility should have adequate first aid and injury supplies and equipment. This will include appropriate special equipment, such as deluge showers and eyewash fountains. Supphes and equipment should be at locations where there is a potential need. It is also important to maintain first aid supphes, equipment, and training. 

Emergency deluge showers and eyewash fountains, supplied with running potable water, shall be located near, within sight of, and on the same level with locations where a direct exposure to ethyleneimine or p-propiolactone would be most likely as a result of equipment failure or improper work practice. 

There shall be a supply of clean, cold water near each tank containing liqnid that may be harmful to the skin if splashed on the worker s body. The water pipe shall be provided with a quick opening valve and at least 48 inches of hose not smaller than V4 inch. Alternatively, deluge shower and eye flushes must be provided. 

---