How to Know if Your Emergency Shower and Eyewash As4775-2007 Compliant?

A safety shower and emergency eyewash station is an important requirement for every laboratory which utilizes dangerous substances and chemicals. Safety shower and emergency eyewash stations are used to prevent any lasting damage to employees. There are variations of safety shower station and emergency eyewash station, like drench hoses, eyewash bottles, combination units, safety showers and combination units to suit any laboratory layout.

People can be unaware that they need to provide emergency shower and eyewash systems to serve as the first aid treatment for their employees in case of accidents when handling more dangerous contaminants in their workplace. This is outlined in the Australian AS4775-2007 and the WHS risk assessments.

It is essential to keep in mind that emergency equipment is only a part of an entire system and the performance of this equipment relies on conditions like appropriate installation, supply pressure and lesser water flow rates as stated by AS4775-2007.

It is recommended that all new facilities, existing sites or buildings that are undergoing renovations should undergo a WHS audit to determine any spaces where the hydraulic system is lacking, which can prevent emergency equipment from functioning to the minimum demands of the Standard.

Emergency eyewash can be categorized as primary equipment if they can be activated and operated constantly without hands being needed for a minimum of 15 minutes and adhere to the flow rates and spray trends as stated by the Standard, or else they are tagged as supplemental.

PRIMARY VS SUPPLEMENTAL EYEWASH

Here are the standards of the primary eyewash and supplemental eyewash systems. However, what is the difference between the two, and when should each be utilized?

Primary Emergency Response:

· Activate within a second or less

· Deliver no less that 1.5 litres a minute of tepid flushing fluid, preferably aerated,

· Flush both eyes simultaneously

· Operate hands free for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Supplemental Eyewash:

· Do not meet the requirements for primary response according to the current Standard

· Intended as a support system, not in place of PrimaryEmergency Response Systems

· Usually located near a hazard and are used in the interim until someone reaches a primary station

· They do not provide 15 minutes of continuous, hands-free flushing.

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