Emergency Showers and Eyewashes Mike Adkins Wednesday, October 31, 10:00-11:1511:15 a.m.

Transcription

1 Emergency Showers and Eyewashes Mike Adkins Wednesday, October 31, 10:00-11:1511:15 a.m.

2 Safety First! How to Specify Emergency Showers and Eyewashes Presented by Mike Adkins, Guardian Equipment. ASPE Convention Charlotte, N.C. October 31, 2012

3 Agenda Occupational Safety & Health Administration and American National Standards Institute general and specific guidelines and requirements Understanding ANSI/ISEA Z Product categories and examples What else do we need to know? Roles and responsibilities of a specifier Design challenges and solutions

4 Legal Requirements The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was enacted to assure that workers are provided with safe and healthful working conditions. Under this law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created and authorized to adopt safety standards and regulations to fulfill the mandate of improving worker safety. OSHA has adopted several regulations with the primary regulation contained in 29 CFR It states the following

5 OSHA 29 CFR C where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.

6 OSHA & ANSI OSHA does not define what constitutes suitable facilities for drenching the eyes or body. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a standard covering emergency eyewash and shower equipment. This standard -ANSI Z is intended to serve as a guideline for the proper design, certification, performance, installation, use and maintenance of emergency equipment. It has been adopted by many governmental health and safety organizations within and outside the U.S., as well as the International Plumbing Code. In locations that have adopted the IPC it is part of the building code. The Uniform Plumbing Code has also adopted the standard. States who use the UPC will eventually be adopting the 2012 version.

7 International Plumbing Code

8 Uniform Plumbing Code 2012 Section 416.0

9 ANSI Z358.1 was originally adopted in It was revised in 1990, 1998, 2004 and again in This presentation presents the provisions of the 2009 version of the standard. ANSI Z

10 General Considerations As mentioned before, ANSI Z contains provisions regarding the design, certification, performance, installation, use and maintenance of various types of emergency equipment. In addition to these provisions, there are also general provisions and considerations that should also be addressed when considering emergency equipment. These include the following:

11 General Considerations First Aid Devices Location of Emergency Equipment Water Temperature Shut Off Valves Corrosion Resistance Freezing Disposal of Water Emergency Response O&M Information

12 First Aid Devices Emergency eyewash and shower units are designed to deliver water to rinse contaminants from a user s eyes, face or body. As such, they are a form of first aid equipment to be used in the event of an accident. However, they are not a substitute for primary protective devices (including eye and face protection and protective clothing) or for safe procedures for handling hazardous materials.

13 Location of Emergency Equipment In general, the ANSI standard provides that emergency equipment be installed within 10 seconds walking time from the location of a hazard (approximately 55 feet). The equipment must be installed on the same level as the hazard (i.e. accessing the equipment should not require going up or down stairs or ramps). The path of travel from the hazard to the equipment should be free of obstructions. (e.g.- Doors) There are certain circumstances where these guidelines may not be adequate. For example, where workers are handling particularly strong acids, caustics or other materials where the consequences of a spill would be very serious, emergency equipment should be installed immediately adjacent to the hazard.

14 Location of Emergency Equipment cont Laboratory environments may also require special consideration. It has been common in many laboratory buildings to install emergency equipment in a corridor or hallway outside of the lab room. Since a door is now considered an obstruction, this no longer satisfies the provisions of the standard. For laboratory environments, we recommend installing (i) recessed laboratory eyewash/shower cabinets inside the lab room and (ii) dual purpose eyewash/drench hose units at lab sinks. The recessed cabinet units are a space saving design that satisfy the standard s requirements for both a shower and an eye/face wash, and are handicapped accessible, while the eyewash/drench hoses provide immediate protection for the eyes, face or body when a spill involves a relatively small amount of hazardous material.

15 Water Temperature The 2009 version of the standard states that the water temperature delivered by emergency equipment should be tepid (60-100ºF). However, where it is possible that a chemical reaction might be accelerated by warm water, a medical professional should be consulted to determine what the optimum water temperature would be. The delivery of tepid water to emergency equipment may raise complicated engineering issues. At minimum, it generally involves providing both hot and cold water to the unit, and then installing a blending valve to mix the water to the desired temperature.

16 Average Ground Water Temperature (F)

17 Since plumbed emergency equipment must be connected to a potable water supply line, it may be advisable to install a shut off valve on the water line, upstream of the unit, to facilitate maintenance of the equipment. If a shut off valve is installed, provisions must be made to prevent unauthorized closure. Shut Off Valves

18 Corrosion Resistance Emergency Equipment must be constructed of materials that will not corrode when exposed to water for extended periods of time. Acceptable materials include galvanized steel and many types of plastic. We can consider the below materials for harsh industrial applications: Epoxy coated galvanized steel Chrome plated brass Stainless steel PVC

19 Freezing We must protect equipment when it is installed in areas that have a freeze potential. There are a number of different types of freeze-resistant equipment, including: Units that have a temperature actuated bleed valve that permit water to flow through the unit when the temperature drops below freezing. These units are generally used only where the possibility of freezing is very infrequent. Units on which the valve is mounted behind a wall or buried below the frost line and is remote activated. Combination units that are electrically heated (heat traced) and insulated Units that have a heated enclosure to fully contain and protect both the equipment and the user.

20 Emergency Response Simply installing emergency equipment is not a sufficient means of assuring worker safety. The following items should be achieved: Employee location training Employee proper usage training Weekly activation of device to make sure it is working properly At the very least, an annual compliance inspection of the unit Employer developed response plan. The focus of the response plan should be to provide assistance to the injured worker as quickly as possible. Alarm systems may be installed in conjunction with emergency equipment. They serve to alert personnel and summon assistance if an eyewash or shower is activated. IT IS RECOMMENDED INSTALLING AN ALARM UNIT WITH ANY EMERGENCY EYEWASH OR SHOWER UNIT.

21 Disposal of Water The standard does not include any provisions regarding the disposal of waste water. However, designers must give consideration to where waste water will go. In particular, care must be taken that waste water not create a hazard (i.e. by creating a pool in which someone might slip) or freeze. Generally, most eyewash, eye/face wash and safety station units are designed with waste connections for connection to drain piping. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EMERGENCY EYEWASH AND SHOWER UNITS BE CONNECTED TO DRAIN PIPING. FOR EMERGENCY SHOWERS AND FOR OTHER UNITS WITHOUT WASTE CONNECTIONS, FLOOR DRAINS SHOULD BE PROVIDED. After an emergency eyewash or shower has been used, the waste water may contain hazardous materials that cannot or should not be introduced into a sanitary sewer. It may be necessary to connect the drain piping from the emergency equipment or floor drain to the building s acid waste disposal system or to a neutralizing tank.

22 O&M Information The manufacturer of the emergency equipment shall provide detailed instructions on the proper installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of the emergency equipment. This information should be accessible to maintenance personnel.

23 Equipment Examples Eyewashes Eye/Face Washes Showers Safety Stations Eyewash/Drench Hose Units Barrier-Free Equipment Freeze-Resistant Units Portable Units Thermostatic Mixing Valves Alarms

24 Eyewash Checklist

25 Eyewash Types G1849 Deck Mounted Eyewash G1814P Eyewash G1891 All-Stainless Steel Eyewash

26 EyeFace Wash Checklist

27 Eye/Face Wash Types Deck Mounted Eye/Face Wash Wall Mounted Eye/Face Wash With Plastic Bowl All-Stainless Steel Eye/Face Wash

28 Drench Hose Checklist

29 Drench Hose Types Wall Mounted Drench Hose Unit Wall Mounted Angled Drench Hose Unit Deck Mounted Drench Hose Unit

30 Eyewash/Drench Hose Checklist

31 Eyewash/Drench Hose Types Wall Mounted Eyewash/Drench Hose Unit Deck Mounted Eyewash/Drench Hose Unit Wall Mounted Angled Eyewash/Drench Hose Unit

32 Shower Checklist

33 Emergency Shower Types Horizontal Emergency Shower Semi-Concealed Emergency Shower

34 Safety Station Checklist

35 Safety Station Types Safety Station with Hand/Foot Control All-Stainless Steel Safety Station All-PVC Steel Safety Station

36 Barrier-Free Checklist

37 Barrier-Free Examples Recessed Safety Station Non-Skirted Barrier-Free Eye/Face Wash Barrier-Free Safety Station

38 Freeze-Resistant Solutions Freeze-Resistant Safety Station Heat Traced Safety Station

39 Portable Units Gravity Operated Portable Eye Wash with Heated Orange Insulation Jacket Portable Eyewash/Drench Hose Unit

40 Emergency Thermostatic Mixing Valves Common Questions: What is tepid water? F How do I get tepid water to the emergency fixtures? Do I use a separate supply? Should I be concerned about Legionella bacteria? Is my valve ASSE 1071 Approved? ASSE 1016, 1070, 1069 OR 1017 DEVICES MUST NOT BE USED FOR EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS. Thermostatic Mixing Valve with Cold Water Bypass

41 Emergency Thermostatic Mixing Valves & ASSE 1071 Emergency mixing valves should have a limiting device to prevent unauthorized temperature adjustment of 100ºF or above. Upon hot water failure, the mixing valve should continue to flow cold water. This is called cold water bypass and it should still meet the minimum flow requirements of the respective fixture. Upon cold water failure, the mixing valve should shut off the hot water flow. Valve must have the ability to maintain outlet temperature during a 25ºF increase in the hot water supply temperature without readjusting the set point.

42 Local Codes Mandate ASSE 1071

43 Tempering System Solutions Tempering systems are furnished with: 119 gallon water heater - sized for 20 GPM for fifteen minutes Recirculation control panel Recirculation heater Recirculation pump Recirculation UV light Booster pump Thermostatic mixing valve Expansion Tank Galvanized steel skid 100% factory tested Tempering System

44 Options and Accessories Audio/Visual Alarm Modesty Curtain on Safety Station

45 What Isn t Covered in ANSI Z358.1 Local plumbing codes ADA compliance Manufacturer product quality Vandal resistance Types of chemicals Disposal Pollutants/acid waste

46 Specifier Responsibilites To specify properly you need to: Know your codes Know your facility Know your hazards Know available products Err in excess Require products to be fully assembled and water tested prior to shipment.

47 Design Challenges and Solutions Four major project categories have been selected based on their unique design issues. These areas are: 1. Clean Rooms 2. Healthcare 3. Laboratories 4. Outdoor Applications- Energy Plants, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants, etc.

48 Clean Rooms Clean Room construction includes, but not limited to: Micro-electronics manufacturing Pharmaceutical manufacturing Vivariums

49 Clean Room Design Challenges Some of the potential requirements for clean rooms: 1. Avoid bacteria growth by limiting standing water. 2. Reduce potential water damage from emergency eyewashes and showers. 3. Air flow concerns: Clean rooms are either pressurized (positive air flow)) or depressurized (negative air flow). 4. Particulates must be avoided. No materials that may contaminate, such as: flaking paint, corrosive metals (i.e.-steel, brass). 5. Anti-static fabrics: to avoid dust build up.

50 Clean Room Design Solutions

51 Healthcare Design Challenges Frequent design issues for healthcare facilities: Limited Space Barrier Free Access Tepid Water Bacteria in stagnate flushing fluid Germ transfer

52 Healthcare Design Solutions

53 Laboratory Design Challenges There are two major categories of labs: Research and Teaching. Some design considerations can be: Corrosive chemical exposure Space limitations Vandal Resistance Universal Accessibility

54 Laboratory Design Solutions

55 Laboratory Design Solutions

56 Outdoor Design Challenges Outdoor environments present some of the most difficult challenges for specifying emergency equipment. Here are a few points why: Freezing must be prevented Delivered flushing fluid temperature shall be between F Corrosive environments: salt air, industrial chemical fumes (Mining, WWTP, WTP, Oil refineries, Swimming pool chemical storage.) UV light exposure Seismic

57 Outdoor Design Solutions

58 Outdoor Design Solutions

59 Safety First! Summary To specify properly you need to: Know your codes Know your facility Know your hazards Know available products Err in excess Thank you ASPE attendees Mike Adkins, Guardian Equipment