Emergency Eyewash & Shower Program

This Program establishes a formal procedure to be used in the upkeep and use of emergency eyewash and shower stations at the (Company Name) facilities.

(Company Name) will ensure that all personnel receive the appropriate eye, face, and skin personal protective equipment (P.P.E) to perform a specific task. Beyond the required P.P.E., the (Company Name) facilities will be equipped with Emergency Eyewash Stations and Emergency Showers. The implementation of this Program will be accomplished by means of employee training and communication of information, and the adoption, assignment and enforcement of this written Emergency Eyewash and Shower Station SOP.

The complete written Emergency Eyewash and Shower Station Program contains the procedures for emergency equipment location, proper use, maintenance and inspection, employee training and communication of information, as well as the weekly inspection checklist.

This Program will be revised and updated as needed by the Safety Manager.

This program applies to all (Company Name) operations engaged in the use, storage, distribution, and/or handling of any regulated chemical substance which may cause harm to the eye, face, or skin.

The Managers, Supervisors, Safety Manager, Employees and Contractors are accountable for the implementation of the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Station Program and compliance. Disciplinary actions will be taken when emergency eyewash and shower equipment is damaged or used for reasons other than its intended immediate emergency use. Responsibilities are as follows:

A.  Management

1.  Ensure compliance with the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment Program.

2.  Conduct immediate corrective action for deficiencies found in this Program.

3.  Maintain an effective Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment training process.

3.  Make this plan available to employees or their designated representative.

4.  Oversee the purchasing, installation, training, and testing of all eyewash and shower stations.

5.  Monitor the effectiveness of the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Station Program.

6.  Maintain the master record set of all documentation concerning type, installation, training, inspection, testing, and use of all emergency eyewash and shower equipment.

B.  Project Lead

1.  Hold the primary responsibility for working with Contractors in completion of specified project tasks.

2.  Conduct the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment Training with the Contractors.

3.  Review the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment Program with the Contractors.

C.  Supervisors

1.  Ensure implementation of this Program in areas of responsibility.

2.  Ensure all Emergency Eyewash and Shower Stations in the department remain operational and continue to meet the criteria established within this Program.

3.  Provide personnel with the proper training.

D.  Safety Manager

1.  Keep management informed of regulatory and necessary Program changes.

2.  Assist the Project Lead with the training provided to Contractors.

E.  Employees

1.  Follow the requirements of this Program and for using the emergency eyewash & shower equipment as trained.

2.  Be familiar with the location and operation of the nearest emergency eyewash and/or shower.

3.  Report to the Supervisor any incident which required the use of an eyewash and/or shower station.

F.  Contractors

1.  Comply will all aspects of (Company Name) Emergency Eyewash and Shower Station Policy.

2.  Coordinate information with the Project Manager who is responsible for working with said contractor in completing the specified task.

G.  Maintenance

1.  Insure Emergency Eyewash & Shower Stations are installed to meet ANSI/OSHA requirements.

2.  Conduct periodic inspections and flushing services of the emergency eyewash and shower stations throughout the location to ensure continued efficiency and operation.

EMERGENCY EYEWASH AND SHOWER STATIONS

Location of emergency equipment

1.  Emergency equipment location must be based on the estimated time of travel of a person with compromised vision.

2.  No more than ten seconds shall be required to reach the emergency equipment from the site of hazard.

3.  It shall be located on the same level as the hazard and the path of travel shall be free of obstructions that may inhibit the immediate use of the equipment. A door is considered to be an obstruction. If the hazard is not a corrosive, one intervening door can be present between the hazard and emergency equipment as long as:

  1. The door opens in the same direction of travel as the person attempting to reach the emergency equipment.
  2. The door is equipped with a closing mechanism that cannot be locked to impede access to the emergency equipment.

4.  No obstructions, protrusions, or sharp objects shall be located within sixteen inches from the center of the water spray pattern of the emergency showers or within six inches from the center of the water spray pattern of the eyewash station.

5.  No electrical apparatus, telephones, thermostats, or power outlets should be located within eighteen inches of either side of the emergency eyewash or shower.

6.  Under the emergency showers mark a three square foot area with, “Keep Area Clear” for the use of emergency shower.

7.  The lighting must be adequate to facilitate the use of the emergency equipment.

8.  Combination showers with eye and eye/face wash shall be connected to a system capable of supplying adequate flushing to meet the requirements of each component when all components are operated simultaneously. Combination units will be positioned so they can be used simultaneously by the user under the shower.

9.  To facilitate the easy identification of the location(s) of eyewash stations, a green and white 180º sign will be posted in the vicinity of the eyewash station.

Criteria of Emergency Equipment

  1. The equipment must have “stay on” activation to allow the injured person to use both hands free.
  2. Dual head for spray pattern of eyewash stations.
  3. The nozzles shall be protected from airborne contaminants and the removal of the eyewash covers shall not require a separate motion by the operator when activating the unit.
  4. On plumbed systems, water supply lines will be tagged “open” and serviced by cool water. Cool is defined as less than 90⁰F.
  5. The basin of the eye wash station is to remain free of trash, storage, etc…

Inspection and Maintenance

  1. To insure safety and serviceability, inspection of emergency eyewash and shower equipment will be conducted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. The plumbed eyewash and shower stations must be activated weekly, for at least three minutes, and inspected annually thereafter to verify the equipment operates properly and assure conformance with Z358.1 requirements.
  3. The inside of all caps for eyewash stations shall be cleaned with alcohol wipes weekly at the same time the eyewash station is activated.
  4. If an eye wash station has its own basin, this should be cleaned weekly.
  5. Emergency maintenance logs will be used to document the weekly inspections.
  6. These logs must be kept for 2 years.
  7. These logs must be kept on the unit where the emergency equipment is located.
  8. All faulty equipment and/or parts must be fixed as soon as reasonably possible.

Portable Eyewash Stations

  1. Portable eyewash stations must be maintained per manufactures instructions. This includes all maintenance tasks, fluid treatment and fluid replacement.
  2. The location of the station must comply with the criteria set forth in this policy.
  3. Eyewash bottles may be used only as secondary means of eye and face protection. They cannot be used as a replacement for a plumbed or gravity fed eyewash station.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING

Employee training will be accomplished in two separate manners; initial training and secondary training. Initial training is provided for applicable new-hire employees and/or any employees who have not been previously trained. Secondary training is conducted with employees who are permanently transferred; temporarily rotated between job positions; employees who have a new hazard introduced into their work area and annually.

Initial Training

1.  Employees assigned the task of emergency eyewash and shower equipment inspection must be provided with training on the inspection procedures to ensure their understanding of the company policy and ANSI Z358.1-1998 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 (c). In addition to the regulations, the employee must also be familiar with the information contained in this SOP.

2.  Employees who may be exposed to hazardous material must be instructed in the location and proper use of the eyewash and shower equipment. In addition, the training must address holding the eyelids open and rolling the eyeballs, so flushing fluid will flow on all surfaces of the eyes and under the eyelids.

Secondary Training

1.  Secondary Training is conducted with employees who are permanently transferred; temporarily rotated between job positions; employees who have a new hazard introduced into their work area and annually. Training begins as soon as the employee transfer occurs, or at the time of introduction of a new hazard into a work area.

2.  As with the initial training, the secondary training is the responsibility of the appropriate Manager. Similarly, the format of the secondary training closely follows that of the initial training. These training topics include:

  1. Employees assigned the task of inspection the emergency eyewash and shower equipment must be provided with training on the inspection procedures to ensure their understanding of the company policy and ANSI Z358.1-1998 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 (c). In addition to the regulations, the employee must also be familiar with the information contained in this policy.
  1. Employees who may be exposed to hazardous material must be instructed in the location and proper use of the eyewash and shower equipment. In addition, the training must address holding the eyelids open and rolling the eyeballs, so flushing fluid will flow on all surfaces of the eyes and under the eyelids.


EMERGENCY EYEWASH & SHOWER EQUIPMENT INSPECTION CHECKLIST

This checklist outlines the criteria each inspector must check when conducting inspections of emergency eyewash & shower equipment.

Department Manager: ______Date: ______

Person Making Inspection: ______

Eyewash/Shower Station No: ______

Yes No

1.  Equipment identified with a highly visible green and white 180º sign.

2.  Area is free of sharp projections.

3.  Nozzle caps are in place.

4.  Location requires no more than 10 seconds to reach equipment.

5.  Path of travel to eyewash/shower is free from obstructions.

6.  Eyewash flush streams rise to equal heights. (Do streams meet in the middle?)

7.  Water supply lines are tagged and chained “open and serviced by cool, clear water. (Cool is defined as less than 90⁰F.)

8.  Eyewash basins are free of trash and debris, gloves, aprons, etc…

9.  Shower nozzles provide even spray of water.

10.  Equipment was activated to test water flow and flush supply lines.

11.  Test record is attached in a conspicuous place.

12.  Nozzle covers dislodge when eyewash is activated.

Maintenance work order needed: Yes No Completed on: ______(Describe any damage, faulty or missing parts below.)

Comments:______

______Inspector’s Signature

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