Emergency safety showers and eye wash equipment provide the first line of defense from chemical splashes and burns, or when damaging dust or small particles get in the eye. When working with hazardous or toxic lab chemicals, any delays in treatment can have serious consequences.

The 10 Most Important Lab Safety Rules

• The Most Important Lab Safety Rule.
• Know the Location of Safety Equipment.
• Dress for the Lab.
• Don’t Eat or Drink in the Laboratory.
• Don’t Taste or Sniff Chemicals.
• Don’t Play Mad Scientist in the Laboratory.
• Dispose of Lab Waste Properly.
• Know What to Do With Lab Accidents.

• Safety goggles. As one of the most sensitive parts of your body, your eyes are especially vulnerable when you’re working with hazardous chemicals and materials.
• Eyewash stations.
• Safety showers.
• Lab coats.
• Protective gloves.
• Fire extinguishers.
• Chemical fume hoods.
• First aid kits.

Laboratory safety equipment

• Laboratory safety equipment.
• back to the main index of the CHP.
• The availability and use of a number of types of safety equipment is essential to the practice of safe science.
• Chemical fume hoods.
• Safety showers.
• Eyewash stations.
• Fire extinguishers.
• Fire blankets.

Doors, Windows, and Walls. Doors should open in the direction of egress. Laboratories should not have operable windows, particularly if there are chemical hoods or other local ventilation systems in the lab.

Use an emergency shower immediately if your skin is exposed to a hazardous chemical. The first few seconds after exposure to a hazardous chemical (especially a corrosive chemical) are critical. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may result in irreparable tissue damage.

Turn it on. Push the handle or otherwise activate the water flow, then let go; the eyewash should stay on until you turn it off. Remove contact lenses if you’re wearing them. They trap contaminants in your eyes and prevent the eyewash from washing out the hazardous chemical.

Accordingly, emergency showers and eyewashes are required by the ANSI/ISEA Z358. 1-2014 Standard to be activated weekly, with a more thorough evaluation on an annual basis.

Eyewashes shall be capable of delivering flushing fluid to the eyes not less than 1.5 liters per minute (0.4 gpm) for 15 minutes.

To test water flow, prevent rust or hard water deposits, and inhibit the build-up of pathogenic microorganisms, a 3-minute flush is recommended. To test the efficiency of the eyewash and ensure that the water will properly wash both eyes, use the simple transparency device described in Figure 1.

The OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c) requires eyewash and shower equipment for emergency use where the eyes or body of any employee may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. For details on emergency eyewash and shower equipment we reference consensus standard ANSI Z358. 1-1990.

When cleaning an eye wash station, use a simple solution of household detergent and hot water. Apply the solution to the unit with a soft sponge or cloth before rinsing thoroughly, making sure to sluice away any remaining soap residue.

Testing Your Eyewash Station

1. Check for running water. The valve activates in a second or less and remains open until closed by user.
2. Check for flow. The water stream should be about six inches long, with both streams crossing at the center of the eyewash nozzle.
3. Check for balance.
4. Check for temperature.

Inspect all eyewash units annually for compliance with the ANSI Z358. 1 standard (Section 5.5. 5). Location: The eyewash safety station must be located within 10 seconds, approximately 55 feet, from the hazard.

Saliva is loaded with germs and tap water has harmful organisms that can cause an eye infection that can even lead to blindness. In a pinch, use distilled water, saline drops or cooled boiled tap water. Sleeping in contacts. This can increase your risk of infection that can lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss.

1 requires that plumbed flushing stations “be activated weekly for a period long enough to verify operation and ensure that flushing fluid is available.” ANSI states that portable equipment “be visually checked to determine if flushing fluid needs to be changed or supplemented.” Whether plumbed or portable, both types …

Plumbed eyewash units deliver plumbed tap water to the eyes in plentiful amounts. Another problem with the plumbed systems is that they use tap water. Because its temperature is not easily regulated, plumbed tap water is often too hot or too cold to flush with for the required 15 minutes.

Stovetop method

1. Boil 2 cups of water covered for 15 minutes.
2. Allow to cool to room temperature.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
4. Add 1 pinch of baking soda (optional).
5. Stir until dissolved.
6. Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours.
7. Add 2 cups of water to a microwave-safe container.
8. Mix in 1 teaspoon of salt.

Cold water is effective in improving blood circulation and relaxing strained eyes. It is similar to the warm compress method except you dip a soft, clean cloth into cold water instead.

Lots of household chemicals can hurt your eyes. They include bleach, drain cleaners, fertilizers, dishwater powder, glass polish, and lime products like plaster and cement. Flush it. Rinse your eye with cool water or saline solution right away for at least 15 minutes.

When prepared correctly, homemade saline solution is similar to distilled water. For this reason, it is safe to use in the nose as a sinus rinse and as an eye rinse. A person can also use saline solution to rinse contact lenses, piercings, and cuts or scrapes, but this will not sterilize them.