What are Emergency Showers and How to Use Them
An emergency shower is a safety device used to flush away harmful chemicals and contaminants. Find out how your business can use and maintain them correctly.
What happens if a hazardous material is spilled or a worker becomes contaminated with a dangerous chemical? This is where an emergency shower comes in. Emergency showers immediately remove hazardous materials from the body and reduce the risk of serious injury, illness, or death. Having emergency showers in the workplace can be a lifesaver. But what exactly is an emergency shower, and how should it be used? This blog post will answer these questions and explore why emergency showers are so important.
What is an Emergency Shower?
An emergency shower is a device designed to aid in decontaminating a person who has come into contact with hazardous materials such as toxic gases, chemicals, acids, or other corrosives. It’s a plumbed-in system that dispenses large amounts of water over a wide area of the body at high pressure. The water removes contaminants from skin, eyes and clothing with minimal physical effort on the user’s part.
Why are Emergency Showers Important?
Emergency showers provide instant cleansing water when exposed to hazardous substances. This can help minimise injuries and discomfort caused by hazardous materials. They also reduce contamination spread, which helps prevent further injury or contamination.
How to Use Emergency Showers?
Using an emergency shower is simple. It involves:
- Ask someone to monitor you and call for medical support if needed.
- Step into the shower and activate the water flow by pressing the “start” button, pulling the knob, or pushing down on a foot pedal
- Close your eyes, stand or crouch directly underneath the shower head, and allow the water to flow over your body for at least 15 minutes.
- Move around so that all areas of your body can get rinsed off by the water.
- Turn off the shower and dry yourself with a towel.
- Dispose of any contaminated items, such as clothing.
How To Check The Quality Of Emergency Showers?
It’s good practice to check the quality of your emergency safety showers regularly to ensure they work correctly and meet required safety standards when needed most:
Test the Water Flow for Proper Quantity, Spray Pattern, and Good Water Quality
The water flow should be sufficient to reach all parts of the body and should be adequately distributed with an even spray pattern. Water quality should also be checked, as contaminated water can pose additional risks during decontamination.
Ensure the Unit is at the Proper Height From the Floor
The emergency shower should be at a proper height from the floor so it can easily be used by all workers, regardless of their height.
Ensure the Unit is Not Obstructed
Ensure the emergency shower is not blocked by any objects, furniture or equipment.
Ensure Valves Are Working Properly
Test that the valves are working correctly, as they are essential for controlling water flow.
Ensure Signs Are Posted
Emergency showers aren’t helpful if workers don’t know where they are or how to use them. Ensure that workplace safety signs indicating the location of emergency showers are posted and visible throughout the workplace.
Ensure the Unit is Free of Corrosion
Check that the unit is free of corrosion, as this can cause damage to the plumbing and reduce water flow.
Tips On Choosing The Right Emergency Showers
When selecting an emergency shower for your facility, there are some important considerations you need to make sure it will meet safety regulations.
These include:
- Type: Portable emergency showers are easy to store and can be set up quickly, but fixed units are more reliable.
- Size: Make sure the shower is large enough to accommodate all users without crowding.
- Durability: Look for a unit with corrosion-resistant materials that can withstand harsh environments.
- Cost: Consider your budget when selecting an emergency shower and
- Location: Install your shower in work areas with known hazards
- Installation requirements: Make sure to read the installation requirements for the unit carefully.
- Safety features: Look for a unit with safety features such as non-skid flooring and tamper-proof activation switches.
- Maintenance protocols: Regular inspections and maintenance are essential for ensuring your emergency showers remain in good working order.
Don’t Get Caught Without a Working Emergency Shower
Emergency showers are vital safety equipment in many workplaces, yet sadly, these are often not adequately maintained or checked. This means that these showers will be useless if an emergency arises. Ecospill strives to ensure all places of business have emergency showers worth relying on should an emergency arise. By booking an inspection, you can guarantee that your emergency shower is up-to-date and meets emergency shower regulations. Don’t get caught without a working emergency shower. Contact Ecospill today.