Thousands of industrial and commercial accidents occur annually, involving airborne particles and  chemicals, including corrosives (acids and bases), oxidizers, and solvents. The first lines of defense  in these circumstances are protective clothing and outer shields, such as gloves and goggles.  But, as we all know, accidents will still happen. In many splash or spray incidents, eyewashes and  eye/face washes are the initial response mechanism. These important pieces of equipment are  tasked with diluting and/or removing the hazardous materials, mitigating further injury. Obviously,  that means proper selection of emergency equipment is a very critical part of your overall safety  plan. While many people feel there is little difference between the various brands and models  of eyewashes and eye/face washes, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Proper selection is  a function of knowing your risks, the characteristics of the materials you work with and logical  consideration of the variety of products and design configurations available.

The design criteria for eye and face washes are driven by the desire for specific features and  capabilities weighed against costs. Features like pressure compensating flow controls, diffused  and/or otherwise cushioned water outlet nozzles and heavy-duty componentry may be more  expensive, but well worth it in your specific application.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides a guide to aid manufacturers,  consumers and the general public relative to Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment.  The Standard, Z358.1-2009, is prefaced by advice regarding the need for proper protection of  employees and others to minimize the risk of hazardous exposure. It also advises those concerned  with compliance to obtain specific local medical input regarding risks and countermeasures. This  article is not meant to be an interpretation of ANSI Z358.1, nor is it intended to replace the advice  of a competent medical professional. Instead, the following information is aimed at developing  a logical thought process that comprehends many of the circumstances and alternatives of your  specific eyewash and/or eye/face wash applications.

Consider Your Potential Exposure

Review your operation from the perspective of the materials your employees handle, the volatility  of those materials and the likelihood of spill or splash accidents that may injure employees or  others:

1、Are spill, splash and airborne contaminant safeguards, like aprons, gloves and goggles, adequate? 

2、In the event of an accident, are emergency equipment facilities available within ten seconds of potential accident sites, with unobstructed pathways to them? Are they located on the same level as the potential accident sites?

3、Are your employees aware of - and practiced in the use of - safeguards, first aid and appropriate countermeasures?

4、Are eyewashes and eye/face washes properly maintained and tested weekly?

5、If you are working with a new installation or a renovation, do you have an adequate numbers of eyewash and/or eye/face wash stations? Remember to consider the possibility of multiple injuries from a single accident. Are emergency facilities properly located? Properly signed and visible?

6、Do you need eyewashes, eye/face washes or both? This can be a reasonably challenging question. Consider the hazardous materials in use. A single drop of caustic material, for example, might splash on a counter top and bounce up into an employee’s eye. This might require an eyewash. Likewise, many airborne contaminants might irritate the eyes only, again with an eyewash being the answer. However, don’t forget that one of the main functions of an eyewash or eye/face wash is to dilute the hazardous substance. Larger scale spills and splashes of hazardous materials that could cause injury to the face, as well as the eyes, would naturally drive the need for eye/face washes. Most safety professionals agree that one should err on the side of caution – if in doubt, specify an eye/face wash.

Weigh Your Alternatives

For the purpose of this review, we will categorize the elements to consider into five groups,  assuming that you’ve already made your choice between eyewash and eye/face wash:

1. Flow Characteristics and Pressure

After you’ve decided between an eyewash and eye/face wash, stop and consider that piece  of safety equipment in actual use. Aside from coverage area, proper flow characteristics are  important. Flow softness is necessary so that the stream is not excessively high nor is the water  pressure uncomfortable to the user.

Consider the height of the flow. A zero vertical velocity stream is ideal because of the water  streaming stopping point and where the user needs to place their face. The 2009 ANSI Standard  now mandates that when placing the testing gauge in the stream of the eyewash the flushing fluid  shall cover the areas between the interior and exterior lines of the gauge at some point less than  8 inches above the eyewash nozzle. Also, pay close attention to the design of the spray nozzles.  While perhaps not as important in eyewashes, eye/face washes often must flow significantly more  water. This should drive the use of a diffused design to cushion the flow as much as possible.

One often overlooked feature is the pressure control valve. Readers should also be aware that  the flow compensation portion buffers the flow in the likely event of air being present in the supply  water line when activated. This keeps the flow steady during use. If the pressure and height of the  flow is too high, the accident victim might shortcut the required irrigation time. This is an important  point. Once again, consider the victim’s level of comfort during use. An excessively strong pressure  or poorly regulated flow would be too harsh and create unnecessary discomfort for the full 15- min flush required. A variety of different eyewash and eye/face wash products are available, with  various designs, operating features and resultant price points. Consider your alternatives carefully.

2. Stream Direction

The medical profession teaches and practices irrigating eyes by introducing the flushing fluid at the inner corner of the eye – adjacent to the nose – and letting it run across the eye to the outer  edge. In effect, doctors irrigate eyes by moving the fluid away from the lacrimal puncta, which  are the ocular cavity’s drains. These drains channel excess fluids (including hazardous substances  accidentally splashed into the eye) directly into the nasal cavity where they can be swallowed  or inhaled. The medical best-practice for eye irrigation is actually opposite the flow direction of  traditional plumbed-in eyewash products. The appropriate approach for eyewash streams are  inverted versus the traditional eyewash. Streams contact the eyes at the inner canthus or corner,  adjacent to the bridge of the nose. Contaminants are swept to the outer edge of the eye, where  gravity takes over running them into the eyewash bowl.

3. Consider “High Coverage” Products

In applications where an eye/face wash is specified, one should also consider the coverage area  afforded by your ultimate product selection. As was illustrated earlier, the coverage difference  between an eyewash and an eye/face wash is significant, by design. Specifiers should also be  aware that there are high-coverage eye/face washes available. These products can provide  about five times the coverage of a conventional eye/face wash in a package that is about  the same overall size. The differences between a conventional eye/face wash flow and a highcoverage eye/face wash flow are dramatic and provide welcome news to those industries that  require them.

4. Construction and Materials

Plastic versus stainless steel and plating versus no plating are a matter of personal preference,  as well as need. Depending on the type of hazardous materials in use and the cleanliness of the  environment, the choice of construction materials should be relatively easy.

5. Tepid Water and Engineered Solutions

Finally, you should consider the temperature of your locally supplied water. Municipal water  in many areas can become quite cold during sustained use. Once again, the likelihood of a  victim remaining in the emergency equipment water stream for the required fifteen minutes is  greatly enhanced if they are made as comfortable as possible. The ANSI Standard now specifies  exact temperature range to guarantee proper flushing. Tepid is now defined as a flushing fluid  temperature conducive to promoting a minimum 15-minute irrigation period, with a suitable range  of 60-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Tepid water requirements are important in order to encourage  users to complete the full 15-minute drench period. The full 15-minute drench period helps prevent  chemical absorption, cool burns and prevent hypothermia. It may be appropriate that you specify  a complete system, including provisions for tempered water. More and more companies are  addressing their precise needs in this and many other areas through collaboration with emergency  equipment manufacturers to develop custom Engineered Solutions.

Prepare the Troops!

We specify emergency equipment in hopes of never actually using it. However, the reality is that  it probably will be used, no matter how focused on safety we may be. So, we logically seek out  the best ways, in both product selection and placement, to ensure the maximum safety net is provided to our employees. after all of the thought, planning and installations are completed, it is  absolutely essential that we take steps to assure that employees know where to go and how to get  emergency help when it’s needed. more than a matter of sending a memo, an active awareness  and training program is invaluable in preparing employees for any eventuality.