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Writer's pictureNiall Kelly

Why Safety Showers Are A Requirement for Chemical Laboratories


Lab workers and glasses of chemicals.

Laboratory workers are exposed to a variety of chemical and other risks on a daily basis, and wearable PPE should never be neglected, for example, safety glasses, gloves and other protective clothing. However, in the unfortunate circumstances where a lab employee gets exposed to harmful substances, chemicals or dust particles, emergency Safety Showers and Eye Wash Units can really come into their own. In such situations, ready access to these units can make all the difference in preventing serious injury or worse. 



What Material Should Laboratory Safety Showers be Made From?


Powder-coated stainless steel is often recommended when it comes to choosing Emergency Safety Showers for laboratories. This offers resistance against flammable and corrosive substances, as often found in lab environments. 


What Types of Emergency Safety Showers Should Be Used in Laboratories?

Ceiling mounted emergency shower

An example of a ceiling-mounted laboratory emergency shower.


Generally speaking, a plumbed-in Safety Shower is recommended for laboratory environments. Depending on the requirements, these can floor-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or wall-mounted. We can supply a variety of Safety Shower designs suitable for laboratory use from the Hughes Safety Shower range.


Where Should Emergency Safety Showers be Located in Laboratories?


Safety Showers should be placed so as to be easily accessible should lab workers be exposed to hazardous substances. Workers should have to travel no more than 20 metres to reach them (or within 10 seconds). The path to them should be unobstructed, and they must be clearly signposted.


Do Laboratory Safety Showers Require Regular Activation?


Yes. Emergency Safety Showers should be activated on a weekly basis. This helps ensure that they are kept in full working order and highlight any potential issues with water flow or temperature. It also helps flush any sediment from the units and their pipes.


What Standards to Emergency Safety Showers Need to Meet?


The minimum requirements for Safety Showers are stipulated by the internationally recognised standard for Safety Showers is the American National Standard, ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014. and the European Standard, EN15154. 


For more information on installing or updating a Safety Shower for your lab, get in touch with our team today on 0402 32116 or email sales@mahealy.ie. We are authorised agents for the Hughes Safety Shower range in Ireland and have decades of experience in the field.

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