Knowledge is power, and this certainly applies when it comes to the usage of safety shower stations. Should someone become exposed to a harmful substance, it’s very important that they have the knowledge about how to effectively use a safety shower in order for thorough decontamination to take place. This knowledge can save lives and mitigate potentially life-changing injuries. Here are three things workers should know about safety showers.
Where the Safety Showers Are Situated
For effective decontamination, it is of crucial that employees know where the emergency safety showers are located so that they can access them as quickly as is possible. Safety showers should be clearly signposted, lit if necessary, and placed within 10 seconds reach of a potential hazard. The path to these showers should be unhindered by clutter that could potentially hamper access to them in an emergency.
How to Activate the Safety Shower
Effective decontamination is time-critical. Every second can make a difference, so it’s vital that all workers are trained on how to activate an emergency safety shower should an emergency arise. Activation method can vary from unit to unit, for instance, some may be activated by a pressure plate, others by a lever, etc.
How Long They Should Use an Emergency Safety Shower
For effective decontamination to take place, exposed personnel should spend at least 15 minutes in the safety shower. This should be under a steady flow of tepid water at the rate of 76l per minute, uninterrupted for a quarter of an hour.
The above list does not pertain to be exhaustive but is a quick overview of critical factors that workers should know about the emergency safety showers in their workplace. If you have any questions our safety shower team are always happy to advise, call us on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork). You can also email sales@mahealy.ie. Gaslines Ltd. has been the authorised Irish distributor for Hughes Safety Showers for many decades and our team as a wealth of knowledge in the use of such PPE by Irish industries.
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