Eyewash Stations

[Lynn]

Hello all,

I have a challenge on my hands and I wonder if anyone else has faced this problem. More importantly, how was it resolved?

I need to install an eyewash station. I know where it has to be mounted but the trick is the location. It is in a warehouse in close proximity to loading dock doors. Climate control is not a possiblity. How do I resolve this when it comes to having to supply water that is "tepid". I do have a hot water tank that is within feet of the installation site but I have concerns for proper moderation of the water temperature. We are a small company with an even smaller budget. I have seen that there are scald control valves but the price tag is more than double what the actual eyewash station is going to cost me. Is this my only solution?

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Lynn

[Rpweaver]

If possible move the battery recharge equipment/chemical's to another location.

[Lynn]

Thank you Rpweaver - Your suggestion is quite valid and we had given this consideration hovever the water (hot) source is quite close to the loading area and moving the station would only lengthen the water supply line.

I guess in actual fact the environmental temperature is actually irrelevant. The problem of supplying "tepid" water would exist even in a heated environment. When taps are first turned on only cold water comes out at first. It can take a matter of moments to a number of seconds before the hot water starts to come through the line.

We are currently giving consideration to just installing a regular water shut of valve on each of the water supply lines and moderating the final temperature with these. The station is supposed to be checked weekly and adjustments could be made as necessary.

The concern is that "scald control valves" are made for these applications. How necessary are they? Would setting the temperature with the shut off valves be a valid solution?

Thanks again.

Lynn

[Rpweaver]

Good Morning Lynn

When you say "tepid" you are quoting the standard. In Ontario the minimum requirement is that the employer must provide a water fountain. Typically an MOL officer will be looking to see if you have one available with in 5 seconds walking distance from the hazard and if it can supply 15 minutes of continuous flush. If the water happens to be too cold I don’t believe it would result in an additional injury. However that being said if there is a chance of a scald then you would need to take steps to prevent that from occurring. I know, clear as mud right! Here is a document that is provided by some MOL officers to workplaces.

[Lynn]

Hello Rpweaver,

Take every precaution reasonable ... can make a person go crazy.

Section 124 of the OSHA says I have to have an eyewash fountain. That is fine. Anyone can put anything in place - or so you think. Then you move on to Section 25 of OSHA to "take every precaution reasonable" and you look up standards. Voila - ANSI 358.1 and now you need "tepid". Following the "take every precaution reasonable" road you move on to the CCOHS which suggests if the water is too hot you risk causing further injury but if the water is too cold it will inhibit the worker from using the shower as long as they should.

I spoke to a coworker who installed numerous eyewash fountains at a previous place of employment and they plumbed them with cold water only. I was not quite comfortable with that.

How far does one go trying to protect the workers? There seems to be a wiggly line between "compliance by the book" and "take every precaution reasonable".

Have a wonderful day and thanks for exchanging words with me on this matter.

Lynn

[Jaclyn Goodall]

Hi Lynn and Rpweaver,

I too am having similar challenges with installing eyewash stations. I am more concerned with space...I found a great one which is called Guardian model #G1849 however, this is very expensive and the price doubles when adding a regulator for "tepid" water. Therefore, I am considering the faucet mounted eyewash. Does anyone use this model? Could you give me some feedback on it? I guess I would need to install a regulator as well for "tepid" water.

Any feedback is welcome!

Thanks

[mhutt]

Hello RP, the document you posted does not have any Ministry of Labour letterhead, reference number etc. It could have been written by anyone. Are you sure this is an official MOL document or just some MOL inspector's opinion?

[EGordon]

Hi Lynn

We had a different approach in my work (municipal).

At one of our Community Centres here, we had cleaners who complained of a hazard (contract cleaners) with respect to chemicals, as there is an eyewash station but in the basement and not near the cleaner's room on the main floor. We have eye-wash bottles everywhere (mounted by our first aid stations), but this was not a fix-it solution as you cannot flush for 15 minutes with a eye-wash bottle.

We took the more proactive approach, by providing Anti-Splash Goggles to all our staff who are in contact with chemicals and other PPE as well (gloves, masks, and what ever may be applicable for the situation).

As such, our cleaners wear the goggles while getting and/or using cleaning products and also have a pair of safety glasses to use when doing things like Windex/Window Cleaning, etc.

The worker is now protected and trained on this and WHMIS and is aware of eye-wash bottles and the station, but have removed the risk of exposure but enforcing the rule of PPE.

There are several other municipalities that have taken the same approach as well.

Hope this is of help and contact me if there is anything else.

[Lynn]

Thank you E Gordon

We too have the emergency eyewash bottle right at the exact site and our staff is to wear protective goggles and or a face shield, gloves and a safety apron. However, that being said, it is a battery charging area and all the references I find for this area demand an eyewash fountain. I have also read - sorry cannot remember where - that even though the employee is wearing protective equipment the eyewash station is required in the event that they are not wearing the equipment either properly or at all. Once again this falls back on the Section 25, Clause 2, Subclause H - take every precaution reasonable...

Just how many precautions are reasonable? That was my original dilemma with "tepid" water. I can purchase an eyewash station for 2-3-4 hundred dollars but then I am supposed to add another thousand or more to install temperature control valves and anti-scald devices.

Thanks again for your feed back.

Lynn

[Rpweaver]

Although this document does not have the MOL letter head it is from the MOL's intranet where there are several reference documents for both the inspector and for the employer as guidance.

I hope this helps.

Oh and the only way to get away from being required to have an eyewash fountain is to eliminate the hazard which means removing it from the workplace. The use of PPE does not allow the employer to negate there responsibilities under the Act or its regulation. This would be like providing training to an employee to “not stick your hand in the press” and not providing guarding. Workers make mistakes and as the employer it is your responsibility to ensure there safety.

[Lynn]

Hello again Rpweaver,

Thank you again for your input on this matter. I see that I was already travelling in the right direction on this matter. Still trying to work out the "tepid" part of the problem though without breaking the bank or any rules.

[mhutt]

Great, how do we get access to these guidelines? Do you have any more for us to reference?

[Rpweaver]

Let me know what questions you have and I'll see if there is some reference material available. Some of the documents that are provided to workplaces are from the Safe Work Associations like IAPA and OSSA. They have an excellent range of information for employers.

[mhutt]

Hi RP, just interested in any guidance documents that the MOL provides to employers but does not post on their website.

Thanks

[Rpweaver]

These documents are located on the MOL intranet (internal) for guidance to the inspector and some may be provided to the workplace (some but not all). There are just too many to post. However I review this board when I can and if I see someone in need of help I will post what I can to try and steer them in the right direction if it's a topic I feel I can help them with.

[HousePlant]

Greetings,
I know this doesn't answer the original question completely but I am going through a similar exercise. ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009 has just been released and although I haven't purchased it yet or read it completely I found in reference websites that it states that the water temperature must be under 38°C (100°F) and above 15.5°C (60°F). Hope that helps you a bit although you will probably still need some kind of blending temperature control device.

Regards,
Dan Plant

[Melissa]

Hello again Rpweaver,

Thank you again for your input on this matter. I see that I was already travelling in the right direction on this matter. Still trying to work out the "tepid" part of the problem though without breaking the bank or any rules.

http://mail.thermoflo.com/Images/Articles/TepidWater.pdf

http://www.idcassociates.com/ProductLit/Lawler/911ETS%20Series/911ETS%20Brochure.pdf

Maybe this will help? No info on pricing, but article states that it is the economical solution....

[HousePlant]

Greetings,
My maintenance manager had a suggestion that he had used at his former place of employment. He had a small hot water heater (big enough to supply the required amount of water) installed as close to the shower/eyewash station as possible and set the thermostat on the tank to the lowest setting to give "tepid" temperatures. Keeping the tank as close as possible and insulating the pipe from the tank to the station would reduce the amount of heat loss.

Just thought I would throw it out and see what others think.

Cheers,
Dan Plant

[FWiderick]

Lynn;
One sugestion that was made to me several years ago was a product by Brady. They have an eyewash heater that goes with the eyewash station. The price seemed quite reasonable and it conformed to the ANSI standard for eyewash stations.
This may be worth a look.

[sylvain]

I hope this will help.
Please click on the link below.
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products.ex?N=999600863&Nty=0