How To Use A Safety Shower

Eye Wash and Emergency Shower Guidelines

Last Updated: September 22, 2020 1:22:thirty PM PDT

Eyewash station

Read guidelines for using and maintaining heart launder and emergency shower equipment.

If you piece of work with hazardous chemicals, know the location and how to employ the nearest eye wash and emergency shower.

These guidelines apply to all UC San Diego laboratories, shops, and studios.

Know the location of prophylactic equipment.

Locate your eye wash and emergency shower. An eye launder and emergency shower must exist available inside ten seconds of unobstructed travel from where hazardous materials are used.
Go along the path clear and unobstructed to your safety equipment.
Examples of dissimilar types of equipment are shown hither.

Emergency shower Emergency shower and eye wash

Apply only approved safety equipment.

Eye wash stations mounted on sinks are valid only if they have two orifices.
Surround, Health & Safety (EH&S) discourages the use of a deluge hose equally an centre wash. Deluge hoses are for cleaning glassware or other laboratory activities; they are not inspected by EH&South and may not exist sanitary.
Never rely on sink faucets to replace an center wash or emergency shower.

Learn how to operate your safety equipment.

Centre washes and emergency showers are like shooting fish in a barrel to operate. Nearly equipment is designed for hands-gratis performance with either paddles, levers, or a pull-lever.
To turn off, simply contrary the action required to plow it on.
Ask your Area Safety Coordinator to show you how to use the equipment.

Maintain clearance effectually your safe equipment.

Keep the area clear at all times around your emergency shower and eye wash, including countertop-mounted eye washes.
Be aware of electrical hazards. Go along energized electric equipment away from eye washes and emergency showers.

Make sure safety equipment is in skillful operating condition at all times.

Make sure the eye wash and emergency shower will be reliable when you lot need them.

Periodically cheque the post-obit:

Cover the eye wash spouts with caps to keep them clean. Caps should exist piece of cake to remove in an emergency.
Look for a current date on the equipment'southward inspection tag. Eye washes and emergency showers are inspected monthly by EH&S to ensure they work.
Call EH&Southward at (858) 534-3660 to written report equipment issues or if your eye wash or emergency shower has not been inspected.

Employ safety equipment for its intended purpose simply.

Never apply prophylactic equipment for cleaning lab or store equipment, personal objects, or for other not-emergency purposes.

Eye wash operation

Employ the emergency eye launder immediately if your optics are exposed to a hazardous chemical.

Keep eyes open The first few seconds after exposure to a hazardous chemical (especially a corrosive chemical) are disquisitional. Delaying handling, even for a few seconds, may result in irreparable centre damage. Don't hesitate!

Note: Some outdoor middle washes may run discolored (rusty) water for a few seconds. Don't hesitate to utilise them immediately when needed.

Drains are rarely designed into floor plans to adjust eye launder stations.Never allow that stop you from using the equipment when needed. Call Facilities Direction at (858) 534-2930 equally shortly as possible to collect water where drains are not installed.

To use emergency eye wash:

Immediately flush optics for at least fifteen minutes.
Proceed the eyes open up and rotate the eyeballs in all directions to remove contamination from effectually the eyes. An injured person may demand help holding the eyelids open.
Phone call Toxicant Control Center at (800) 222-1222 for communication, and then seek medical attention immediately.
Accept someone bring or fax the Safety Data Sail (formerly calledMaterial Safe Information Canvass) for the chemic to the doctor.
Report the injury or exposure. Encounter What to Do if a Piece of work-Related Injury, Illness, or Exposure Occurs.

Emergency shower operation

Use an emergency shower immediately if your pare is exposed to a hazardous chemic.

The first few seconds subsequently exposure to a hazardous chemical (specially a corrosive chemical) are disquisitional. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may event in irreparable tissue harm. Don't hesitate!

Note: Some outdoor emergency showers may run discolored (rusty) water for a few seconds. Don't hesitate to use them immediately when needed.

Drains are rarely designed into flooring plans to adapt emergency shower stations.Never let that stop you from using the equipment if needed. Call Facilities Management at (858) 534-2930 as soon every bit possible to collect h2o where drains are not installed.

How to use emergency shower:

Immediately flush the affected area with copious quantities of h2o for at least fifteen minutes. Protect the eyes from inadvertent contagion.
Remove contaminated habiliment, jewelry, and shoes.Don't let modesty slow you lot downwardly. Every second counts. Use a clean lab coat to provide the victim with privacy and warmth.
Call UC San Diego Poison Control at (800) 222-1222 for communication, and and then seek medical attending immediately.
Have someone bring or fax the Safe Information Canvas for the chemical to the physician.
Report the injury or exposure. See What to Do if a Piece of work-Related Injury, Disease, or Exposure Occurs.