Wednesday, February 24, 2016

The Reasons For Installing An Eye Washing Station

By Carolyn McDonald


Chemical workers face a myriad of dangers. They risk chemical exposure. Chemical exposure may result in chemical burns or irritations. Medical workers and lab technicians are also in danger of exposure. For medics, chemical exposure could result in severe infection. In this regard, these workers must have protective gear to work in. This range from facial protection equipment to protective footwear. Regardless of this proactive measure, accidental chemical exposures may take place. It is there for important to have an emergency cleaning unit. An eye washing station is also important for reasons discussed herein.

The eye rinsing unit serves to minimize the severity of chemical exposure. It is a point used mainly for the facial exposure. The facility contains liquids that wash away the chemicals while minimizing their impact. The fluid is determined after a job risk analysis. The chemicals in the laboratory or area are analyzed. Their chemical composition is determined. A counter-active fluid is then installed in the rinsing unit. It renders the chemical inactive or minimally reactive.

Law enforcement agencies have it as a requirement. All facilities involved in handling hazardous chemicals ought to have a facial cleaning area. For the building plans to be approved, these areas must be included. Most importantly, they must be sufficient for the number of workers in the facility. Also, they must be readily accessible. That guarantees the protection of the sight of anybody working in the industry.

Trained workers have the minimum risk of exposure. Additionally, they know the amount of time required to clean up the exposed facial area. The time is dependent on the nature of the chemical. Alkaline, saline, and acidic chemicals may have varying severity. Managers should have workers trained on safety standard operating procedure. Some mild chemical may require 15- 20 minutes rinsing time. Others may take up to 60 minutes to be cleaned completely.

Flushing stations come in different designs. None is said to be the standardized version. However, the facility should have a suitable unit for their staff. They must regard accessibility, usability, and flexibility.

Other uses of the eye rinsing stations include cloth washing. Sometime spillage may occur on spots on the protective clothing. To minimize exposure, the spillage must be rinsed off. Then the cloth removed. There are also emergency showers in case of extensive exposure. Some facilities have stations that double up as emergency shower and facial flushing units.

Portable facial flushing bottles are also common. These are more effective compared to immobile ones. They are recommended for outdoors and jobs that allow for carrying a bottle. The response time is reduced. In this light, the exposed area is more likely to be salvaged.

Individuals running these risky premises must ensure they understand the hazard present in their operations. They must communicate this to their staff. Training is important to minimize the prevalence of such accidents. However, they must understand that eye washing is just first aid. A medical examiner must be consulted after that for a comprehensive diagnosis. There are companies offering legions of safety solutions for such industries. Managers must liaise with them for comprehensive solutions.




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