Eye showers

Eye injuries can also occur quickly in areas where there is dust, or where wood or metals are being processed. Eye showers allow the eyes to be rinsed free of foreign bodies, dust or chemicals immediately after an incident.

Typical sources of danger in laboratories and industry include, for example:

• Workplaces where toxic or corrosive substances are handled.
• Ovens and open fires, as well as any areas containing hot substances (e.g. steam, boiling water, oil or fat).
• Work that produces swarf and dust.
• Areas where hazardous dust, gases or vapours may be present.

Workplaces of this kind can be found almost everywhere: in laboratories, warehouses, workshops, kitchens, the chemical industry, the metalworking industry or on ships.

When rinsing the eye in a first aid situation, the eye wash should not come into direct contact with the contaminated eye or the area around it. The black rubber guard on the B-SAFETY eye wash is only intended to protect against impact injuries. An optimal rinsing effect is achieved at a distance of approx. 150 mm. The diameter of the spray cone at this height is approx. 80 mm. It is recommended to hold the eye open with both hands during use. Seek medical attention!

The shower head or shower heads should be emptied after each use if possible by holding the shower upside down. This prevents water from standing in the shower head and minimises the possibility of germs developing.

In the event of an accident involving burns or contact with hazardous liquids or gases, it is important to:

• Rinse the affected areas of the body immediately with plenty of water!
• Remove affected clothing that is not stuck to the skin as quickly as possible!
• Depending on the severity of the chemical burn, the eyes should be rinsed for up to 15 minutes in accordance with BG guidelines!
• In case of eye injuries, hold the eyelids open while rinsing!
• Call an ambulance as quickly as possible and seek medical advice!
• Continue rinsing during transport and in the first-aid room! This requires eye wash bottles, which you can find in our online shop at the following link: https://b-safety24.com/augenspuelflaschen.html
• Inform the doctor about the substance in question and advise them of possible countermeasures!

Eye wash stations must comply with EN 15154-2:2006 in Europe and ANSI Z358.1-2014 in the USA. Other national standards may also apply. In addition, company-specific standards may need to be taken into account when selecting an eye wash station.

EN 15154-2:2006 requires a minimum flow rate of 6 litres per minute for eye wash stations for all areas of application, regardless of the number of outlets. The spray height should be between 100 and 300 mm before the spray collapses. B-SAFETY eye wash stations are equipped with high-performance shower heads that deliver a particularly soft water spray, which is optimised for rinsing chemicals out of the eye.

ANSI Z358.1-2014 distinguishes between eye wash stations and eye/face wash stations. Eye wash stations require a minimum flow rate of 1.5 litres/minute or 0.4 GPM, while eye/face wash stations require a minimum flow rate of 11.4 litres/minute or 3 GPM.

B-SAFETY eye showers have different flow rates depending on the number of high-performance shower heads:

• Eye wash with shower head: 7 litres/minute (1.8 GPM)
• Eye wash stations with two shower heads: 14 litres/minute (3.6 GPM)

Specific requirements for eye wash stations are determined by the risk assessment for your site. The number of eye showers required can also be determined from this. It is possible that company-specific standards may need to be taken into account.

Safety data sheets for the hazardous substances used usually provide further guidance on identifying the chemical risk and associated hazards. They provide information on recommended decontamination procedures required for the chemicals in question in the event of an incident or skin contact. For example, if ammonia comes into contact with the skin, the affected area must be rinsed with warm water (25°C to 30°C) for at least 15 minutes.

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