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Posted By MickN
I'm hoping for a little help here.
Is there a legal requirement for emergency showers? I appreciate that you'd need to be very silly indeed to not have at least one but I'm looking for the legislation. I've spent the morning going through the EU based stuff and I'm hoping someone can shorten my search!
Based in the ROI, I'm primarily interested in Irish and EU law regarding this, however I would appreciate the UK perspective too.
Thanks
Mick
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Posted By Coshh Assessor
Er ... but don't lots of perfectly sensible companies not have emergency showers? Surely this is just risk assessment as part of first aid provision?
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Posted By MickN
Of course they do... but is it a legal requirement?
Don't misunderstand, we have emergency showers. I read today that there is a requirement to locate them within 30m (100ft) or 10s travel time.
I'm simply trying to add substance to my case and also see if the law gives reference to marking out the footprint as part of it's signage.
Mick
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Posted By Coshh Assessor
I think you misunderstood my point - which was that many workplaces quite rightly do *not* have any emergency showers, because they don't have any risks that warrant them.
How could it be a legal requirement when at most workplaces they are both absent and totally unnecessary?
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Posted By Flic
Coshh Assessor is quite correct.
However, I think to get towards answering your own question you have to ask yourself 'Why do we need safety showers?'
Once you are clear what they are for and who is likely to need them, then it will be easier to see how many of them you should have and where they should be.
Flic
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Posted By Jay Joshi In GB, most emergency showers are installed as requirements of COSHH-Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, Regulation 13, and nowhere in COSHH does it explicitly state safety showers, but the installation meets the requirement for implementation of "arrangements" i.e procedures "to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies"--so it is the COSHH Assessment that determined the need for the safety shower! In RoI the relevant legislation is likely to be "The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 2001"--Regulation 8 http://publications.hsa....dex.asp?locID=7&docID=69
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Posted By Adam Worth
I had a quick look for guidance on google, there is an American Standard that states travel times and distances.
American National Standard ANSI Z358.1 2004 " Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment ".
This may be useful for guidance?
All I could find for UK guidance was BSI BS EN 15154-1 Emergency safety showers Part 1: Plumbed-in body showers for laboratories.
I would also take note of all previous posts this is down to risk assessment! There may even be a situation where a shower is not a good idea!
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Posted By MickN
Thanks to everyone for your help, it is appreciated.
The reason for the showers (we have 6 in total, including a de-misting one) is of course the presence of chemicals.
Thanke again.
Mick
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Posted By Flic
You still have to ask yourself the questions how much, how dangerous, how likely?
Chemicals vary a great deal in the hazard and also the risk. A small sealed robust vial of the most dangerous chemical in the world is less dangerous than standing knee deep in a totally harmless dust.
Flic
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Posted By Adam Worth
The Chemist in me has to say -
Is water not a chemical?
I'm sure Chris will comment on some chemical skin contact and water application. Some where in my head is the idea that applying water to certain gaseous cyanides post skin contact encourages absorption?
Maybe it's just home time :)
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Posted By MickN
Flic,
I represent the client in a construction project that's almost complete. The showers are there, can't change it, the risk assessments have been completed long ago.
I am looking into showers as they have yet to be highlighted with signage/paint/or footprint keep clear zone and I wished to know if there was a legel requirement for any of it.
I plan to make sure that we have the minimum completed before handover and whatever else is possible but it helps my case if I have a solid foundation.
Thanks again,
Mick
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Posted By Flic
If they are already there, I am now confused as to what your original question meant.
As a little aside, has someone made provision for drains for the water, or are they going to have half a ton of water on the floor in no time flat, with nowhere to go? Will it rain on the people in the floor below?
Flic
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Posted By MickN
Flic,
There are no drains and it's on the ground floor. The risk from chemicals is low and therefore usage of the showers is not thought to be common. Mops will have to suffice. They're also in a cleanroom so drains are out of the question.
I'm simply trying to expand my knowledge of safety showers and the legislation. My conclusion is that they are not mentioned by name anywhere. Of course they are an industry standard where chemicals are in use but there seems to be no legislation governing the finer details (signage, keep clear markings & dimensions, colour codes used, modesty curtains etc.)
The search continues...
Mick
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Posted By Coshh Assessor
OK, I think I understand now - you want to know what the required standards are for emergency showers, not whether there is a requirement to have them at all?
I doubt you will find this in legislation, I think it's more likely to be in an EN standard.
About the drainage - they may not be used often, but they will need to be tested and drainage will be needed for that.
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Posted By Flic
Adam Worth has already cited the standard:
BS EN 15154-1: 2006
Emergency Safety Showers - Part 1: Plumbed-in body showers for laboratories.
This standard specifies the height, the quality of the water, the spread of the water and how the shower shall be switched on. It also specifies signage.
Part 2 is 'plumbed-in eye wash units'
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Posted By MickN
Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted, a valuable exercise.
As for drainage, a bucket is normally used. There are attachments you can get, or make yourself to contain splashes etc., but the water ends up in the bucket.
Mick
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Posted By Jeffrey Watt
Flic
A small sealed robust vial of the "most dangerous chemical" in the world.
Did you mean whiskey?
Kind regards
Jeff
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