Safety Managers/Engineers must be mindful that a weekly inspection of Safety Showers & Eye Wash Unit is a legal requirement under the European standard EN15154 and International standard ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014. There are two reasons for this:
(1). Weekly Safety Shower/Eye Wash Unit activation ensures that this essential PPE is kept in good working condition.
(2). Weekly Safety Shower/Eye Wash Unit activation helps to clear the pipes of debris or sediment and thus mitigates the risk of legionella.
What do I need to check for in a Safety Shower or Eye Wash Activation Test?
When conducting a Safety Shower or Eye Wash Activation Test, you should check for the following:
Safety Showers and Eye Wash Units should go from ‘off’ to ‘on’ in 1 second if not less—this should be the first thing you check as part of your Activation Test.
Check that the valve remains open until you close it—it should not shut of its own accord.
There must be a steady flow of water, without interruption, stuttering, or stopping. The water must be flowing steadily with no stuttering or stopping.
The streams of Eye Wash Units should also be checked for a consistent, steady flow. In addition, it is important to check that they are both at the same height (gauges are available to make this easier).
Check that the water flow is clear and not dirty/cloudy. The Safety Shower/Eye Wash Units should be flushed until a clear flow of water is obtained.
What should I look for in a Safety Shower or Eye Wash Unit Visual Inspection?
Safety Showers/Eye Wash Units must be clearly visible and demarcated.
The Safety Shower or Eye/Face Wash Unit should be inspected for any leaks.
When conducting a visual inspection of a Safety Shower/Eye Wash Unit, you must make sure that there is an unobstructed access path to the units in question.
You should ensure that any electrical equipment is kept at least 3 feet away from the Safety Shower/Eye Wash Units.
Check for any obvious signs of damage to the units.
We hope that this information has been helpful, however, if you’re unsure of anything in relation to Safety Showers or Eye Wash Units our experienced team would be happy to help you. Gaslines Ltd. has been supplying Safety Shower and Eye Wash Units to Irish businesses for decades, give us a call on 0402 32116 or sales@mahealy.ie.
