Page 255 - Demo

“Your Safer Source for Science” Eyewash Area Coverage Plan Eyewash Area Coverage Plan
253
Event
N
Lab Bench 1
Lab Bench 2
Lab Bench 3
Lab Bench 4
21'
Door Heavy Radial Line Defines 25'-Limit of Eyewash Area Coverage Door 42'
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 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 Lab 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.
Existing Eyewash Station
Safety Regulations
OSHA regulations require you to placard the location of all safety and emergency equipment with signs. See pages 279–280 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
Test Your Eyewashes
Your eye/facewashes 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 sheet (overhead transparency), 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.
8cm
+
3cm
Fume Hood
Safety Tip