FACTS

1. Emergency showers are designed to flush the user’s head and body. They should not be used to flush the user’s eyes because the high rate or pressure of water flow could damage the eyes in some instances.
2. The need for emergency showers or eyewash stations is based on the properties of the chemicals that workers use and the tasks that they do in the workplace.
3. Emergency showers and eyewash stations are a necessary backup to minimize the effects of accident exposure to chemicals.
4. Emergency showers can also be used effectively in extinguishing clothing fires or for flushing contaminants off clothing.
5. The first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous material are crucial to prevent further damage to the person’s skin and eyes. Even a few seconds’ delay could make the difference between serious injury and blindness.
6. Emergency showers and eyewash systems must be properly placed and fully functional to be effective. Employees need to be made aware of the location and proper use of the stations, the chemicals they are exposed to, and the potential hazards those chemicals present.
7. Emergency showers and eyewash stations should be the last line of defense and be supplemented with a written personal protective equipment program. Showers are also useful for extinguishing clothing and removing contaminants from skin and clothing.

STATS

• A study reported that when an emergency rinsing station is used, deep-tissue burns from acids are reduced from 63 % to 12.5 %. The number of days in the hospital reduce from 20.5 to 7.5.
• only 25 % of emergency shower/eye wash stations work properly and can provide proper first aid.
• Plumbed showers should deliver at least 20 gallons per minute at 30 psi for a minimum of 15 minutes. One of the most common problems found in the field are showers with insufficient water pressure; this usually results from faulty installation.
• The need for emergency eyewash and shower devices is real. 15,110 U.S. workers were afflicted by chemical exposures in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).