An emergency shower is a safety device used to allow persons who have come into contact with chemicals, hazardous substances, or tremendous heat to be rinsed off immediately. An emergency shower is designed to quickly rinse a person with copious amounts of water when they have come into contact with hazardous substances.
Emergency showers are often found in laboratories, factories, chemical plants, and other environments where the risk of exposure to hazardous substances is high. Emergency showers are vital to provide immediate first aid in the event of chemical exposure and can make all the difference in minimizing damage and preventing serious injuries.
Important features of an emergency shower include:
1. Abundant water flow with a flow rate between 60-76 l/min: Emergency showers have a large flow rate to quickly and effectively remove chemicals from the skin and clothing. This is crucial to minimize exposure. The flow rate of an emergency shower is 60-76 l/min.
2. Quick and easy activation: Emergency showers are designed to be activated quickly and easily by a single action. Activation is often done by means of a pull handle, panic bar, or activation grid. This ensures that the person who has come into contact with hazardous substances has immediate access to the emergency shower.
3. Long flush time: Emergency showers provide an adequate flush time to ensure thorough decontamination.
4. Combined with an eye wash: Emergency showers often include an eye wash to quickly remedy eye irritations due to chemical exposure.
5. Clear marking: Emergency showers are usually clearly marked with pictograms, colours and text indicating that it is an emergency shower. This facilitated recognition and access in emergency situations.
6. Placement and accessibility: Emergency showers are strategically placed in locations where the risk of exposure to hazardous substances is high. They should be easily accessible and clearly visible to all employees.
How does an emergency shower work?
An emergency shower, possibly combined with an eyebath, is easily and quickly activated by a single action.
The emergency shower is activated with a pull bar. The eyebath using a push plate or by opening a lid if the eyebath has a lid with lid activation. Once the emergency shower or eye wash is activated, it continues rinsing until the user manually closes the emergency shower and eye wash.
Additionally, an activation pedal can be fitted for both the emergency shower and eye wash.
When is an emergency shower needed?
Emergency showers are placed in areas where persons may inadvertently come into contact with chemicals, hazardous substances, or tremendous heat. Emergency showers are placed in locations that present the following risks:
Toxic, highly toxic
Corrosive
Flammable, explosive
Environmentally hazardous substances
Substances that develop flammable gases due to increased temperature
Substances which cause spontaneous combustion
....
Is an emergency shower mandatory?
Belgium:
Codex Book VI Title 1 - Chemical Agents
ART. V1.1-25.
"The employer shall provide what is necessary, such as emergency showers, eyewash fountains, neutralising agents and adsorbents, to minimise the consequences of unwanted releases of chemical agents. The unwanted releases and the materials used in the clean-up must be removed from the workplaces as soon as possible in such a way that they cannot pose a danger to people and the environment inside or outside the company."
The Netherlands:
Policy Rule 4.6 -3.
In workplaces where work is carried out with substances that meet the criteria for classification in one or more of the categories "explosive", "extremely flammable", "highly flammable", "flammable", "toxic", "very toxic", "corrosive", and "sensitising", referred to in Article 9.2.3. 1, first, second, and third paragraphs, of the Environmental Management Act, or substances which may pose a risk of fire or explosion due to elevated temperature, due to their reactivity with water in which flammable gases are developed, or due to self-ignition, an emergency and eye shower shall be present and easily accessible at all times The following shall be observed.
Are there standards for emergency showers?
Emergency showers and eyebaths are subject to a number of standards, namely European standard EN 15154-5 and US standard AnsiZ 358.1.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 15154-5:
Minimum flow rate safety shower 60 l/min
Minimum flow rate eyewash 60 l/min
Rinsing time should be minimum 15 minutes
The emergency shower should provide potable water
The water should have a temperature between 15°C-37°C (with recommendation between 20°C-25°C)
Safety Showers and eyebaths should be easily accessible without any obstacles
AMERICAN STANDARD ANSIZ 358.1:
Minimum flow rate safety shower 76 l/min
Minimum flow rate eyewash 11,4 l/min
Rinsing time should be minimum 15 minutes
The emergency shower should provide potable water
The water should have a temperature between 16°C-38°C
Safety Showers and eyebaths should be easily accessible without any obstacles
