Eyewashes and Safety Showers

The American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, ANSI Z358.1-2004, states, “Plumbed equipment shall be activated weekly for a period long enough to verify operation and ensure that flushing fluid is available.” A note further states, “The intent is to ensure that there is a flushing fluid supply at the head of the device and to clear the supply line of any sediment build-up that could prevent fluid from being delivered to the head of the device and minimize microbial contamination due to sitting water.”

Eyewashes can be modified by your zone plumber to accommodate a five-gallon bucket under the eyewash drainpipe. Turn in a work request with a departmental number or contact your building deputy to initiate the work.

Turn in a work request with a departmental number or contact your building deputy to initiate the work. You should indicate “High Priority – emergency eyewash out of service” if your eyewash is not functioning.

EHS does not have the resources to do this. It is the responsibility of the persons working in the laboratory or shop to check the eyewash weekly.

In situations where you are working with very corrosive chemicals with high splash potential, a daily check would be advisable.

Yes, the ANSI code requiring eyewashes to be checked weekly also requires safety showers to be inspected weekly.

This is a two-person operation. One person will position them self within arms reach of the manual shutoff valve located in the water piping leading to the safety shower. A ladder is sometimes necessary to get within reach. Test the manual valve for ease of opening and closing BEFORE testing the shower. If you cannot operate this manual shutoff valve, do not test the shower because the shower’s release valve sometimes sticks in the open position. This is especially true with the pull-chain valve.

The second person will position him or herself under the shower and prepare to operate the pull valve. This is not the same as the manual valve. The pull valve is intended to operate the shower; turn it on or off. The manual shutoff valve is intended to shut off the water supply to the shower during maintenance and servicing. The second person standing beneath the shower places a five-gallon bucket under the shower head to enclose it. Now, pull the shower release valve. The shower will gush water into the bucket at a rate of 20 gallons per minute. If chain operated, release the chain quickly. If lever operated, push the lever back up. The shower should shut off before the bucket is full. With a pull-chain valve, if the shower’s self-closing valve sticks open and water does not stop flowing into the bucket, the first person at the manual shutoff valve must immediately close the manual shutoff valve. The same goes with the lever valve, but these are typically much more reliable.

Lastly, if the shower’s self-closing valve sticks open and the shower has to be shut off manually, the shower and very likely the eyewash will be out of service. OSHA requires a functioning eyewash if using corrosive material or harmful substances to the eyes. A work order with your proper departmental account number must be immediately turned into the Work Request Center at 765-494-9999. Mark the work request with “High Priority – emergency shower out of service” and describe the work that needs to be performed. If possible, replace the pull-chain valve with a more reliable ball valve equipped with a rigid pull-down lever. These valves allow the shower to turn on and remain on until the lever is pushed back up, thus closing the valve.