The eyewash and safety shower program is crucial for
protecting workers against burns, blindness, blisters, ulcers and other serious
injuries, yet according to Occupational Health & Safety, it is one of the
most under-utilized and misused workplace safety programs.
Occupational Health & Safety offers the following tips
to better protect your workers from injuries related to corrosive materials by
properly using eyewash and shower stations:
- Emergency eyewash stations should be placed in all hazardous areas with first aid instructions and supplies located nearby.
- Employees should be educated not only regarding how to use eyewash and safety shower equipment, but also about when to use those systems to ensure that employees will not hesitate in the event of an emergency. Additionally, everyone must know the exact location of all eyewashes and how to find them with restricted vision.
- Department managers should be required to maintain eyewash and safety shower stations. A fully integrated weekly testing and documentation system should be in place to ensure that testing and maintenance are being carried out properly.
- Implement policies for selection, implementation, testing, training and replacement of the equipment.
- Employees who purposely do things to disable eyewash and safety shower systems must be disciplined accordingly, and if an employee knowingly endangers other workers in such a way, termination should be considered.
- Make sure that paths to eyewash stations and shower units are clear.
- Check water temperature before installing units and regularly test it afterward. Eyewash stations will not work to the best of their abilities if the water is too hot.
- Do not allow anyone to use eyewash stations for any reason other than their intended purpose, such as using the bowl as a planter or attempting to thaw frozen foods using the water flow.
- Include supplies to remedy burns and chemical exposure in first aid kits.
- Ensure that emergency phone numbers are posted and that they are current.
Visit Occupational
Health & Safety’s website for more tips.