WPS: EMERGENCY EYE WASH & DELUGE SHOWERS

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Chapter:- Workplace Safety

EMERGENCY EYE WASH & DELUGE SHOWERS

Let's hope you never need one, but if you do let's hope it's clean and accessible. If you get foreign particles in your eyes or a chemical spill on your body, an emergency eyewash station or deluge shower is the most important initial step in first-aid treatment. Chemical burns to the eye are among the most urgent of emergencies.

For your safety, be sure you know where the emergency eye wash stations are located and how to use them. If you get foreign particles or chemicals in your eyes, use an eyewash station immediately.

An eyewash/shower is required if:

• The Material Safety Data Sheet indicates a chemical in use is caustic, toxic, or corrosive.
• The MSDS informs that serious eye damage may result.
• Warnings such as "causes chemical burns" or "causes permanent eye damage" are posted on container labels.

Eyewash/showers in addition must have the following:

• Pure clean water
• Hands free operation
• Constant water flow rate for a full 15 minutes
• Highly visible markings and signs
• Unobstructed access

Accessibility: The single most important treatment for chemically-burned eyes is copious irrigation within seconds of injury. This means that victims should not have to climb over or around obstacles to find the eyewash station. Make sure there are no barriers to the unit.

Make sure eyewash station is accessible.

• Make sure you have easy access to it. You should not have to climb over or around obstacles to find it. Seconds do matter.

Clean, Functional Equipment: Deluge showers should be inspected often to insure they function properly with adequate water flow, and are clean and sanitary. Portable eyewash units are an option in areas where plumbed in water is not accessible or of high enough quality. Portable units also need an anti-bacterial additive to ensure proper water sanitation. Flushing with any water is better than none, but purified water reduces potential for secondary eye infections.

Help clean and care for equipment.

• Plumbed eyewash stations should be inspected weekly and flushed to insure they have adequate water flow, are clean, accessible and in good working order.
• Buffered solutions in self contained eyewash stations need to be changed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions - usually every 3-6 months

Training in Proper Use: Employees who are exposed to possible chemical splashes must know in advance how to use an eyewash/deluge station properly:

• Immediately after the accident, flood the eye with water or eyewash solution, using fingers to keep the eye open as wide as possible. Water may be colder than body temperature, which can be uncomfortable, but it is imperative to irrigate for the recommended period of time.
• Roll the eyeball as much as possible, to remove any loose particles retained under the eyelids.
• The eyes should be irrigated for at least 15 minutes, and the victim transported to a medical facility immediately. Continue irrigation of eyes during transport. The best way to accomplish this may be to have a portable eye-wash system ready, that can be carried along.
• It's easy to forget about eye-wash stations or showers until they are needed in an emergency.

Know how to use the eyewash station.

• Immediately following a chemical exposure to the eyes, go to the eyewash station, activate flow and begin to flood the eyes with water. Use your fingers to keep your eyes open as wide as possible. If your hands are contaminated, ask a co-worker to hold them open for you!
• The water may feel uncomfortable. But you must flush your eyes for the recommended amount of time. This will generally be 15 to 30 minutes.
• Roll your eyeballs as much as possible to remove loose particles or to flush chemicals from under the eyelids. Rinse off your face too.
• Notify your supervisor immediately after flushing and seek prompt medical attention.

Help a co-worker if necessary.

• Be prepared to assist a co-worker to the eyewash station. Stay calm and don’t delay. Also, allow yourself to be helped if you’re injured.

Be aware of the risk when working with hazardous chemicals:

Things to look for:

• The Material Safety Data Sheet tells you that exposure may cause irritation, burns, corneal damage or blindness.
• Container labels have warnings such as “causes chemical burns” or “causes permanent eye damage.”
• Tags or labels say the material is corrosive, caustic or toxic. Check the pH.

                  Don’t take eyewash stations for granted. One could save your sight someday!

Don't let yours become buried or covered with dust. It could save your sight!Do not put anything except water into the eyes to remove particles.