Eyewash facilities

Depending on scale of operation, use impervious rubber gloves, eye protection (glasses/goggles/face shield), rubber aprons, boots, armlets, protective suits Provide respiratory protection against gases/dusts/fumes Provide shower and eyewash facilities... 

Use under well-ventilated conditions and provide convenient safety showers and eyewash facilities. 

Engineering Controls Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate general or local explosion-proof ventilation to keep airborne levels to acceptable levels. 

Persons wash their hands after removing gloves and before leaving the laboratory. The sink is near the laboratory door and the taps can be operated without being touched by hand. An eyewash facility is readily available. 

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

In addition, in an October 18, 2010, OSHA memo to the regional administrators, OSHA says that equipment compliant with the 2009 version of ANSI Z358.1, American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment provides suitable eyewash facilities for exposures to Portland cement. 

Necessary utilities include steam, air, water, and electric power. Potable water should be available for safety shower and eyewash facilities. A lower grade of water sometimes can be used for flushing. Blending operations may require water of higher purity. 

In addition to normal plant requirements (e.g., hard hats), personal protective equipment should include, as a minimum, chemical splash goggles and rubber gloves and boots. Some operations may require a full face shield, a chemically resistant suit, or a respirator. Safety showers and eyewash facilities should also be in the operating or handling area. 

Learn the Location of Eyewash Facilities. If there are eyewash fountains in your laboratory, determine which one is nearest to you before you start to work. If any chemical enters your eyes, go immediately to the eyewash fountain and flush your eyes and face with large amounts of water. If an eyewash fountain is not available, the laboratory will usually have at least one sink fitted with a piece of flexible hose. When the water is turned on, this hose can be aimed upward, and the water can be directed into the face, working much as an eyewash fountain does. To avoid damaging the eyes, the water flow rate should not be set too high, and the water temperature should be slightly warm. 

If there is any possibility that an employee s eyes may be splashed with solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde, the employer shall provide acceptable eyewash facilities within the immediate work area for emergency use. 

B. Emergency drench showers and eyewash facilities are recommended. These should be maintained in a sanitary condition. Suitable cleansing agents should also be provided to assure the effective removal of MC from the skin. 

Eyewash facilities must always be available and it cannot be stressed too strongly that these should be plentiful in number and kept in prominent and readily accessible position. 

Instant-acting safety showers and eyewashing facilities should be conveniently located in an area not likely to become contaminated. 

Do you have eyewash facilities and a quick drench shower within the work area where employees are exposed to injurious corrosive materials Where special equipment is needed for electrical workers, is it available ... 

Inadequate fume hood operation and ventilation Unguarded belt and pulley assemblies, saw blades, etc. Lack of safety shower and eyewash facilities... 

They can only be used as an interim protective measure, in conjunction with an approved eyewash facility, where installation difficulties are an issue. 

In a letter of interpretation dated 03/08/2002, OSHA states that it wordd consider the guidelines set by such sources as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1-1998, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, which states, at section 7.4.4, that eyewash facilities are to be located torequire no more than 10 seconds to reach but that where a strong acid or caustic is used, the unit should be immediately adjacent to the hazard. 

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