Not that this really adds anything new to the conversation, but ANSI
Z358.1-2004 requires that eyewashes and showers "be activated weekly for a
period long enough to verify operation and ensure that flushing fluid is
available" in order "to ensure that there is a flushing fluid supply at
the head of the device and to clear the supply line of any sediment
build-up that could prevent fluid from being delivered to the head of the
device and minimize microbial concentration due to sitting water."
Nonmandatory Appendix B of Z358.1 also says that a lower temperature limit
of 60=B0F may prevent the person using the shower from developing
hypothermia.
We have been telling people for years that they should flush their
eyewashes for at least three minutes weekly to reduce bacterial and
amoebic contamination, especially Acanthamoebae (although one senior
staff person said that Acanthamoebae can still be a problem anyway). As
far as temperature goes, here in Minnesota, water pipes in buildings have
been known to freeze up in extremely cold weather and sometimes burst.
In case anyone can use it, we developed a booklet on our requirements for
emergency eyewashes and showers. (It is based on our enforcement policy,
which is based on ANSI Z358.1.) It can be accessed through our web site at
www.doli.state.mn.us/pdf/eyewash.pdf.
- Diane Amell, MNOSHA
>>> Barbara Mowery 10/17/06 3:22 PM >>>
Ben,
We have mixing valves on our most recently installed drench hoses and
eyewashes; I have not checked the actual temp, but it feels pleasant.
However, I have run into a problem with the mixing valves-on my
monthly checks I found some with low flow rates which I reported to
maintenance. The person who fixed that said the mixing valves are prone
to clogging, partly from lack of use, and need to be checked weekly,
allowing them to run for several minutes. Of course, that is still
preferable to having an injured person refuse to rinse as long as
necessary because of the ice cold water.
I'm not sure about safety showers and will check ASAP.
Barbara Mowery
Laboratory Coordinator
Department of Physical Sciences
York College of PA
Country Club Road
York PA 17405
717-815-6480
Quoting "Greene, Ben" :
> Colleagues - With previous discussions regarding "tepid" water temperatur
es
> required by ANSI Z358.1-2004 in mind, I was curious what other facilities
> have measured the temperatures of their delivered water and what the
results
> were. With the low end of "tepid" being 60 F (Appendix B), it might
seem
> cold for a dip but not for a, uh, soft drink. We recently measured the
> temperatures of water from more than a dozen units (both eyewash and
> emergency showers, indoor and outdoor), and found a mean temperature of
72 F
> at an ambient outdoor temperature of 75 F; safely above the 60 F
"limit".
> Of course, we expect seasonal variation and plan to measure the
temperatures
> periodically in the future to determine if mixing units are required.
>
> We are in southern New Mexico which has a nominally mild climate (though
it
> does cool down in the winter) and I wondered what the delivered water
> temperatures at facilities in other parts of the country are.
>
> Ben
>
> Ben Greene, Ph.D.
> Jacobs
> Las Cruces, NM
>
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