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Fume Hood
Eyewash Area Coverage Plan
Door Door Existing
When chemicals are used in the laboratory, chemical splash goggles must be worn
and an eyewash should be readily available.
The above drawing is intended to represent a school laboratory. The single
eyewash station is located along the southeastern wall. Will the single eyewash
provide adequate laboratory coverage? No, it will not! Our drawing includes an
event that occurs at the far, north end of Bench 1. Our victim will have to travel
almost 40 feet to the eyewash station. An average, sighted, non-traumatized
person will walk a distance of 40 feet in about 9–10 seconds. A strongly caustic
chemical splash will do its damage in 30 seconds or less. If the victim takes immediate
action (which is unlikely), the travel time to use the eyewash is too long. The
travel time could be reduced significantly if an additional eyewash station were
installed on the other side of the room.
What can you do? Make a crude sketch of each laboratory area. Draw lines on
your sketches that represent travel distance limits from the eyewash station. The
heavy radial line in our sketch defines that limit—25 feet from the eyewash station.
Using the same graph sketches, prepare similar coverage plans for other key
safety aids, such as fire blankets, fire extinguishers and a safety shower.
Test Your Eyewashes
Your eye/face washes should be tested on a routine basis to make sure they are in good working
condition, to clear mineral deposits out of the system and to make sure the water stream will
hit both eyes. How often you check your eyewash depends on the water quality and age of the
eyewash. Once a week is a good starting point. Remember to document when you test your safety
equipment to remind yourself when you last did it and to demonstrate you are a responsible science
teacher.
A simple, inexpensive device can be made to check the efficiency of your eyewash. Draw a pair of
eyes onto a clear plastic (overhead transparency) sheet, using the pattern shown to the right. Turn
the eyewash on and place the sheet over the eyewash as if it were your face. You’ll be able to see
instantly if you’re getting the proper eyewash coverage.
Safety Regulations
8 cm
+
3 cm
Eyewash
Station
N
Event
Lab
Bench
1
Lab
Bench
2
Lab
Bench
3
Lab
Bench
4
Heavy Radial Line Defines 25'-Limit of Eyewash Area Coverage
21'
42'
OSHA regulations require you to placard the location of all safety and emergency
equipment with signs. See page 677 for safety signs.
In General Terms…
…the maximum travel distance to reach each safety aid should be as follows:
Safety Aid Max. Suggested Travel Distance
Body Shower 50 Feet
Fire Extinguisher 25 Feet
Fire Blanket 30 Feet
Eyewash 25 Feet