Eyewash/Safety Shower Information

Eyewashes & Safety Showers are a vital piece of emergency response equipment in any laboratory using hazardous chemical or biological materials.  This is because:

• The first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous substance, especially a corrosive substance, are critical.
• Accidents can still occur even with the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and engineering controls. 
• Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may exacerbate serious injury.
• Safety showers and eyewash stations provide immediate in-laboratory decontamination by allowing staff to flush contaminated clothing or skin with copious amounts of fluid. 

Locate your nearest eyewash and safety shower – you should be able to reach it within 10 seconds even with your eyes closed.  There should also be highly visible signage at the eyewash or safety shower.  If you can not find a unit or your signage is missing please contact RMS. 

In the case of an exposure, if you need to use a safety shower or eyewash, make sure that you remove contaminated clothing and flush for at least 15 minutes once activated.  Chemicals can continue to affect your skin or eyes even if you can no longer feel an exposure sensation.

Safety showers & eyewashes are required to activate with a single motion & remain activated until physically shut off.  If you would like a demonstration of how to activate your safety shower or eyewash please call 895-4226.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has promulgated a standard covering eyewash and safety shower equipment (Z358.1-2004).  Under this standard, weekly activation to flush eyewashes/safety showers is a requirement.  This assures that there is adequate fluid available and that no sedimentation is building up in the unit.  RMS currently flushes these units every other week.  It is the responsibility of the laboratory personnel to flush the units in-between & sign off on the tag.