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Welcome to E.J. Dwyer Co.
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Emergency The ANSI Z358.1 standard has been revised. The new standard took effect in January and is marked as the 2004 version. It is available for purchase from the International Safety Equipment Association www.safetyequipment.org at a purchase price of $53.00 per copy. Since this is a copy written document, we can not provide photocopies of the standard. The new 2004 standard has changed little from the 1998 version.
Some of the changes to highlight include:
Emergency
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has adopted ANSI
Standard Z358.1 that details more specific requirements for emergency
equipment that are commonly used by OSHA during a facility inspection.
Although ANSI Z358.1 is a voluntary standard, OSHA can and typically does
use ANSI criteria when issuing a citation or violation in the workplace if
eye wash and shower equipment does not conform to the
standard. Regulatory Requirements
Background: 29 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 1910.151
essentially states "where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to
injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or
flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for
immediate emergency use". OSHA inspections can be
scheduled on a regular basis, occur randomly without prior notice or may
occur due to a complaint as a result of an accident within the workplace.
If a violation is found during an OSHA inspection, the consequence may
range from a warning, monetary fine or even a plant
shut-down. On
The following changes outlined below are specific to the sections of the standard that have changed from the previous standard. ANSI Z358.1
Standard - Emergency Eye WATER FLOW (sections 4.1, 4.5.1, 4.5.2)
Comments: Most emergency drench showers flow between
45-60 gpm when in use. The amount of water
discharged during the 15 minute use requirement specified by ANSI at this
flow rate is considerable (900 gallons). In an effort to better manage the
disposal of flushing fluid released in an emergency drench shower
application, the minimum flow rate was revised from 30 gpm to 20 gpm or minimum of
300 gallons of waste. Because many drench showers are manufactured to
exceed the 20 gpm minimum at 45-60 gpm, a 20 or 30 GPM Flow Control can be added to the
drench shower equipment to minimize the amount of waste discharged.
Commonly, flow controls can be purchased as a separate retrofit part
through the manufacturer or distributor. Always check with the
manufacturer before purchasing and installing this type of equipment to
have an understanding of the flow rate specified for this piece of
equipment so you can accommodate for drainage accordingly. Please note:
drainage is not specifically addressed in the ANSI Standard. Proper
disposal of waste while using eye wash and shower equipment should be
handled in accordance with local and state authorities. Plumbed and Self Contained Emergency Showers (section 4.1)
Comments: This verbiage was added for clarification
purposes under plumbed and self-contained emergency showers to include
combination showers. The original statement in the old standard indicates
that the center of the spray pattern for a drench shower shall be located
at least 40.6 cm (16 in.) from any obstruction. The new language in the
revised standard simply verifies that the addition of an eye wash in this
case is not considered an obstruction when the shower is in
use. DISTANCE of Emergency Eye
Comments: The travel distance (30.5 meters or 100 feet)
from the hazard was removed from the revised standard and 10 seconds was
retained as a general guideline for equipment location. It is recommended
that a hazard assessment be conducted at each workstation or job-site to
determine what hazards are present (i.e. highly caustic) and rate of
absorption into the skin. This information will help determine location of
the equipment using the guidelines established by ANSI. As a general rule
of thumb, the average person walks at a rate of 4 miles per hour so
therefore a 10 second walking distance from a potential hazard would
equate to approximately 50-100 feet. Per ANSI, it is highly advised that
in any case, a consulting physician or appropriate professional be
contacted for advice on the proper distance especially where the potential
for injury is rated high. SIGNS/LIGHTING (sections 4.6.2, 5.4.5, 7.4.5, 8.4.3, 9.4.2)
Comments: In many cases, signage for eye wash and shower
equipment is not properly positioned so as a person with impaired vision
can easily identify where the equipment is located. When installing eye
wash and shower equipment it is critical that the signage be placed either
on the equipment at eye level or within several feet of the equipment at
eye level. The area around the equipment should also be lighted so all
operating parts of the equipment can be easily identified. In addition to
proper signage and lighting, all employees should be properly trained not
only as to the location of the equipment, but how to properly operate the
equipment as well. A written emergency response plan outlines specific
procedures to be used in an emergency situation is also highly
recommended. SHUT-OFF VALVE (addition to the revised standard, sections
4.6.4, 5.1.5, 7.1.4)
Comments: Shut-off valves are not standard equipment to
emergency eye washes and showers. Typically shut-off valves are installed
on the main water supply line running to the eye wash or shower equipment
for maintenance purposes. In any event, it is the responsibility of the
facility owner or operator to designate a person or persons to maintain
the equipment. This person should be given sole authority and
responsibility to ensure shut-off valves are in the open position and
locked at all times when the equipment is not being
maintained. WATER TEMPERATURE (addition to the revised standard, sections
4.6.6, 5.4.6, 6.2.5, 7.4.6, 8.4.4, 9.4.5)
Comments: ANSI specifies a full 15 minute drench
application to eyes, face and/or body during eye
wash and shower equipment use. To encourage the full 15 minute flushing
period, it is recommended that a comfortable water temperature be provided
for this purpose. In many cases, a single "cold" water supply is used with
this type of equipment, which if not properly tempered could result in
hypothermic shock or accelerated absorption of chemicals into the skin.
Although a comfortable temperature range is considered at 65-90 degrees
farenheight, a medical consultant should be used
to determine optimum temperature range for each application. Water
temperature can be regulated by the use of Thermostatic Mixing Valves that
require an incoming hot and cold water supply line to the valve. The valve
blends both hot and cold water to a set temperature point and the output
water to the eye wash and shower equipment is in essence tempered water.
Other types of water tempering devices can be used but it is advised to
consult with a plumbing engineer as to the best application for your
facility. Please note, any water tempering devices selected for use with
eye wash and shower equipment should have a positive hot water shut-off in
the event the cold water supply fails to eliminate any risk of scalding. A
cold-water by-pass should also be standard to the valve to ensure water
availability in the event that the hot water supply fails. MAINTENANCE AND TRAINING (addition to the revised standard,
sections 4.7.1, 5.5.1, 6.2.1, 7.5.1, 8.5.1, 9.5.1)
Comments: All documentation for emergency eye wash and
shower equipment should be filed in a designated area next to the
equipment. It is recommended that equipment be tested weekly to ensure
proper operation. Testing of equipment should be documented on an
inspection tag, which can be filed with the instruction manual or tagged
to the equipment itself. ANNUAL EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS (4.7.4, 5.5.4, 7.5.4, 8.5.4, 9.5.4)
Comments: This verbiage was added with the intention of
ensuring equipment is tested at least once a year by equipment owners per
ANSI specifications. In addition to annual testing, plumbed eye washes and
drench showers should be tested weekly not only to ensure proper operation
as noted above, but to clean the water supply line from iron and other
water deposits that build-up if the water remains stagnant for too long.
Comments: A eye wash test gauge
can be obtained through the manufacturer or distributor of eye wash and
shower equipment products. The gauge is a very helpful tool to use while
testing eye wash equipment to ensure the spray pattern conforms to ANSI
standards. Eye wash spray patterns that do not conform should be repaired
or replaced immediately. Common causes for an irregular spray pattern
include lime or mineral deposit build-up in the eye wash sprayhead and/or yoke assembly. In this case, the yoke
assembly should be cleaned out by using a flexible scrub brush to remove
any debris. If the yoke assembly is permanently obstructed with debris
that can’t be removed, a new yoke assembly should be installed. Other
causes for an irregular spray pattern may include the omission of a flow
control device in the spray head or yoke assembly or the flow control may
be malfunctioning. In the event that the spray pattern is irregular, the
manufacturer of the equipment should be contacted for
instruction. MANUFACTURER PERFORMANCE TESTING (sections 5.3.1, 5.3.2,
7.3, 9.3)
Comments: Certify is defined in the revised standard as
"to test by a third-party to verify performance requirements as specified
in this standard". This requirement puts onerous on the manufacturer of
eye wash and shower equipment to implement a more standardized quality
assurance program with their products to guarantee compliance with ANSI
regulatory requirements. This guarantee ensures all users of the equipment
that it will work properly in the event of an emergency. When purchasing
eye wash and shower equipment, make sure it is certified through an
outside testing agency (a certified agency other than the manufacturer).
Most recognized third party certification organizations of eye wash and
shower equipment include
SEI (Safety Equipment
Institute) and
CSA (Canadian Standards Association). COMBINATION SHOWERS WITH EYE AND EYE/FACE WASHES (section 9.4.4)
Comments: This specification requires that when a
combination drench shower with eye wash is being used, all components must
be able to operate at the same time and still meet minimum flow rate
requirements. Per ANSI the following minimum flow rates at 30 PSI
apply:
In addition, all parts of
the drench shower and eye wash should be positioned so they can be used at
the same time.
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