EMERGENCY SHOWERS & EYE RINSING
Personal hygiene and quenching thirst are factors that can have a considerable impact on safety in the workplace.
Dehydration must be effectively countered in industries which involve sources of intense heat (metal, glass etc.) or during hot, summer days in particular. On the other hand, the provision of a warm beverage is essential for optimum performance if the workplace is cold (freezer rooms, cold rooms) or during the winter period.
This entails organisational problems, for instance the cooling or heating of drinks, the clearing up of drinking cups, bags, bottles etc. Installing a drinking fountain is an ideal solution.
EYE RINSING
The eyes and body can be rinsed with sterile water or with a specially designed eye wash that significantly reduces or even prevents chemical burns. Read more
EYE WASH FOUNTAIN
Mains-connected eye and face fountains can be found in this section. Read more
EMERGENCY SHOWERS
You can find an emergency shower here for every situation: heated, with eye wash, ceiling-mounted models, explosion-proof, frost-proof etc.ACCESSORIES
If you are looking for accessories for emergency showers or eye washes, this section contains test materials, wall holders, pumps, cabinets and other items.EN 15154 - emergency safety showers and eye rinsing
- chemical burns
- thermal burns
- heat stress
- dehydration
What type of emergency shower should I choose?
It is important to estimate the risk posed by the hazardous substance(s) and to match the type of eye wash or emergency shower to this. For substances which do not significantly harm the skin, an eye wash is sufficient. If the substance is flammable or extremely aggressive, then the whole body must be rinsed using an emergency shower.
The ideal solution is usually a combination shower with which both the body and the eyes can be rinsed well. Tank or decontamination showers may, however, also be the solution. In any case, the range is comprehensive and will certainly include the right shower for you.
Automatic sink units which can optionally be connected to the showers prevent bacteria in the pipes from multiplying to harmful numbers.
It is also important to include the location of the shower in the consideration of the type of shower.
In an industrial area with coarse dirt particles in the air and many logistical movements, it is sensible to install an eye wash/face shower made from impact-resistant ABS plastic with a hood. This type of eye wash/face shower is resistant to knocks and the hood prevents dirt particles in the air from entering the nozzles. The use of contaminated nozzles can do more harm than good.
In laboratories where there is generally a different way of working, stainless steel eye washes/face showers with dust hoods are usually sufficient.
The various versions have their own technical specifications which are specified for each version.
What is a chemical burn?
We can distinguish two categories: chemical substances which can cause burns by direct contact: corrosive substances and irritants.
Chemical burns, the severity of which depends on the number of cells destroyed, will be more severe in the case of corrosive substances.
In some cases the aggressive substance can also have a toxic or harmful effect, the consequences of which cannot be ignored.
What are the principles of rinsing with water?
- A superficial rinsing to quickly remove the aggressive substance
- The dilution of the chemical substance in order to reduce its aggressiveness
- A universal product avoids the risks of error at the time of the accident
What are the limitations of water?
- Concentrated substances which penetrate very quickly
- The intervention time of 10 seconds, which is not always realistic.
- The comfort of the rinsing: the risk of hypothermia under a water shower, difficulty opening the eyes
Where are eye washes and emergency showers obligatory?
workplaces with substances from the following categories
- explosive,
- extremely flammable, highly flammable, flammable,
- toxic, very toxic,
- corrosive and
- sensitising,
- or with substances that emit flammable gases as a result of increased temperature or reactivity with water, or which can present a danger of fire or explosion as a result of self-ignition, an emergency shower and eye wash must be present which is easily accessible at all times.
How can a shower be made frost-proof?
This can be achieved in two ways; by means of electrical trace heating or underground water supply. In the case of trace heating the pipes are made frost-proof by installing electrical wiring in the vicinity of the pipes. In the case of an underground water supply, the water is connected at a frost-proof depth of 36".
Must an emergency shower or eye wash meet European standards?
Yes, all emergency showers and eye washes must meet European standard EN15154, which imposes certain requirements with regard to the design of the shower, the shower flow, the height of the eye jet, rinsing time, water distribution, etc.
Is there a requirement for an annual inspection of eye washes and emergency showers?
No, but for safety reasons emergency showers and eye washes must be checked at regular intervals. This consists of a visual inspection, checking the flow, checking the height of eye washes, etc. See attached schematic drawing.
Why choose a heated emergency shower or eye wash?
Medical recommendation for rinsing:
- As soon as possible and continuously for the recommended time
- Water temperature: lukewarm temperature > 15°C and < 37°C
Higher than 37°C harmful interaction between chemicals and eyes/skin
Lower than 15°C cooling effect in the case of burning/damage by chemicals
Fall in body temperature = prematurely discontinue rinsing
What to do if no water supply is present?
There are plenty of alternatives, such as portable eye wash fountains, Tobin, Cederroth or Barikos eye wash bottles.
Diphoterine is the ideal product in the event of a chemical accident.
In the case of accidents involving HF, Hexafluorine is the best solution.
What are the principles of rinsing with Diphoterine?
- It is a liquid, which enables it to obtain the same effect as water on the surface of the skin or eye.
- Diphoterine is a chelating amphoteric agent, which enables it to stop the aggressiveness of the chemicals in a polyvalent way. Unlike water, Diphoterine will stop the penetration of the chemical.
