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Posted By Ted Griffiths
Hello, my 1st time on this forum. I have an concern about showers that may be designated for use as an emergency shower BUT may also be used for hygiene purposes. There is a lobby by some that the shower should remain under lock and key. Fine until an emergency occurs when immediate access is required. I'm trying to find a mandate in an ACOP or Regulation that states immediate access is required.
I've already looked through the Workplace, Health, Safety and welfare,COSHH and First Aid ACOPS without any success.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards, Ted
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Ted
Emergency showers are much more powerful than ordinary showers. It depends on the possible degree of contamination and with what, but are you sure that the showers to which you are referring are powerful enough?
Paul
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Posted By Timothy Capner
Hi Ted
Mirroring Paul's comment re: the power of emergency showers, 'deluge showers' are designed to thouroughly soak and wash away a contaminant from an employee covered with whatever. This would be a control measure noted in a CoSHH assessment, and as such must be freely available at all times. I suggest you look at your CoSHH assessments first of all.
If they are not designated as emergency showers, why do some staff wish them to be locked?
Regards
TimC
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Posted By Laurie
Bear in mind the actual purpose of an emergency shower.
The person using it may be blinded by chemicals, or in agony from a corrosive. The shower should not even have a door, let alone be locked.
The user should simply be able to stagger in, in a state of near collapse, and hit one single large control, e.g. a full width bar, and get an immediate drench with clean water.
Laurie
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Posted By garyh
In my view the more an emergency shower gets "used" (hopefully not in an emergency, of course) the better. The reason for this is that with the best will in the world, they may not get tested and flushed out enough and debris can build up (eg rust). This used to happen to some of the old eye wash stations. In addition, tread etc mechanisms can also sieze up - less likely if they are used regularly.
I must say however that locking up emergency showers is crazy; in addition I wonder if anyone would actually wash with a dedicated "Emergency Shower"
Final thought, in an Emergency any shower can do the job if there is no alternative nearby.
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Posted By Laurie
Gary's right.
I have used a fire hose on occasion
Laurie
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Posted By Ted Griffiths
Thanks to all of you for your responses.
To answer some of the questions, we have two main types of chemical hazard, strong acids/alkalis in process clean, and splash by kerosene and/or oil elsewhere.
In the process area we have high pressure showers which supply water only. These are completely unimpeded by entrancerestrictions and easy to turn on.
To deal with the kerosene/oil hazard, you really need a heated water supply with soap, hence a domestic type of shower is acceptable.
The reason some individuals want to see them locked is so that they can be seen to maintain control over them (cleanliness, soap, towel provision). I realise that the risk assessment needs to mandate free access to these showers, BUT I was hoping to find a simple one liner in a regulation somewhere to beef up the risk assessment.
Thanks again ,
Ted
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