Three reasons why emergency showers should be on construction sites

When it comes to construction site safety, airborne and chemical hazards pose just as much of a threat to workers and visitors as physical ones. Wearable PPE is essential, of course, but having an emergency safety shower on your construction site is also a requirement in many cases. Here are some examples of the hazards which make the presence of a decontamination shower crucial on construction sites:

1. Protection against dust

   
   

   From silica dust to asbestos dust to dust from concrete, exposure to dust on a construction site poses the threat of skin irritation, or worse, depending on how toxic the dust is. Employees working in such an environment should have ready, unhindered access to a safety shower station.

   
   

2. Protection against fumes & vapours

   
   

   Solvents, paints and glues can form vapours under certain conditions, which can be harmful should a worker become directly exposed to them. In order to mitigate absorption of toxic vapours by the skin, an on-site emergency shower is essential.

   
   

3. Protection against gases

   
   

   Gases are an ever-present danger on construction sites. Aside from gases used during construction/engineering processes (e.g. acetylene or propane), there is also the risk of gases that may be released from contaminated ground. An emergency safety shower can come into its own should a worker become exposed to it.

Of course, construction workers should also be issued with appropriate wearable PPE, including (but not limited to) gloves, protective eyewear, and masks ( a safety shower won’t prevent dust inhalation, for example. Our sister company, M.A. Healy & Sons Ltd, have an article outlining what PPE construction workers should be issued with.

If you would like to find out more about safety showers on construction sites, please do contact our safety showers team on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork). We have a range of mobile safety shower units available for hire or purchase—these are ideal for construction sites.