Safe Ways To Use A Safety Shower In An Emergency

Knowing how to use a safety shower in an emergency is important. A safe shower can help you avoid dangerous chemicals and protect your health. This blog post will discuss how to use a safety shower in an emergency.

A safety shower is an emergency shower designed to immediately douse a person with large amounts of water in the event of an accident or exposure to hazardous materials. Safety showers are typically found in industrial and laboratory settings where there is a risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals or other substances.

Safety showers are required by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in certain workplaces with potential exposure to hazardous materials. OSHA requires that safety showers be marked and easily accessible so they can be used quickly in an emergency. Safety showers must also meet certain water pressure and flow rate standards to be effective.

When To Use A Safety Shower?

A safety shower should be used whenever there is a risk of exposure to hazardous materials, such as chemicals or infectious agents. If you are working with hazardous materials, always have a safety shower nearby in case of an accident. You should also know how to use a safety shower properly to benefit from it in an emergency.

Exposure to corrosive, injurious substances can result in damage from safety showers. There are several corrosive chemicals, including:

• Hazardous electric storage battery electrolyte
• Formaldehyde
• Sulphuric Acid (Also known as battery acid)
• Sodium Hydroxide (Also known as lye or caustic soda)
• Anhydrous Ammonia
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Pesticides, Herbicides, Insecticides, etc.
• Chlorine (Bleach)

Even though this list isn’t exhaustive, it gives you a good idea of what chemicals are involved. Consult your health and safety officer if you work with corrosive chemicals but do not have access to safety showers.  The distance between the hazardous area and a safety shower must not exceed 10 seconds, according to the ANSI Z358.1 regulations.

Safe Way To Use A Safety Shower In An Emergency

When using a safety shower, it is important to remember the following tips:

Before Using A Safety Shower

• If exposed to a corrosive chemical, it is important to take action immediately. The longer the chemical is in contact with your skin, the more damage it will cause. Getting to a safety shower as quickly as possible is the best way to minimize the damage.
• Remove all clothing and jewellery before entering the safety shower. Keeping clothes and jewellery away from the skin makes them less likely to become saturated with chemicals. If fabrics become saturated, they can act as a wick, drawing chemicals into the skin and causing severe injuries. For this reason, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and remove all clothing and jewellery before using a safety shower.
• Although it may be embarrassing, it is important to strip naked when using a safety shower. This is because decontamination involves removing all clothing, and it is more important to protect yourself from injury than to save face. 

Operating A Safety Shower

• Safety showers are designed to provide a quick and effective way to rinse off harmful substances. Most models are activated by pulling a lever, which releases water at a pre-set rate and volume. This ensures that you receive a thorough rinse and that the shower meets ANSI regulations for safety showers.
• To ensure thorough decontamination, you should stay under the stream of water for at least 15 minutes. If possible, it is advisable to stay in the shower until medical help arrives.
• Make sure to keep the shower head away from your eyes and do not allow the water to flow into your eyes. If contaminated water enters the eye, place an eyewash station nearby and thoroughly flush them with water once they have been cleaned.
• The rust may discolour the water from an outdoor safety shower, but this is no cause for concern. You should enter the shower immediately rather than wait for the stream to run clear.
• Use soap if possible, wash your hair and body thoroughly and rinse your mouth and eyes with clean water for at least five minutes. Dry off with a clean towel and wear clean clothing if necessary.

These are just a few tips to remember when using a safety shower. These simple steps will help you minimize the risk of injury in an accident.