DCHAS-L Archives, Apr 10 2017 - Re: [DCHAS-L] ? Re Eyewash Water

So many points to address. I will preface this discussion with the disclaimer that my company, Safety Emporium, is an authorized global distributor for Guardian Equipment, a major manufacturer of such equipment

1. The faucet-mount eyewashes are generally not compliant with ANSI Z58.1 (and, by extension, OSHA as well as best practices that you would want from a legal perspective) as they require two motions to activate. They are meant only as supplemental units. See, for example, the disclaimers associated with the G1100 on our web site as well as the downloadable G1100 spec sheet you can find there: http://www.safetyemporium.com/g1100 As an aside, *some* faucet-mounted units do meet the motion activation requirement. The G1200 does: http://www.safetyemporium.com/g1200 but I would not rely on it as a primary unit as you would have to keep the hot and cold lines open to each other and that sets up a host of other issues.

2. Your eyewashes presumably have filters in them. If you're seeing this kind of coloration and potentially debris, then you should be checking and cleaning/changing the filters on at least a weekly basis. They're easily replaced/checked - just screw the heads off. They are little foam rings that look like this: http://www.safetyemporium.com/470-004r

3. I presume this is a potable water supply. If your physical plant has determined that the water meets acceptable drinking water standards, I don't see an issue using slightly discolored water. The contamination is probably a few ppm of dissolved iron or such, and that poses no threats to an eye. So long as there no particles coming out of the water, of course. How quickly does your discoloration take to clear if you activate it a few hours after your daily flushing? I don't know if the standard includes requirements regarding the quality of the potable water supply; I will ask a factory rep and follow up unless someone posts a comment here first.

4. You could consider placing a portable eyewash unit that meets the ANSI standard in that room. Something like the Guardian model G1540 or G1562 or their equivalents from other manufacturers: http://www.safetyemporium.com/g1540 or http://www.safetyemporium.com/g1562 Another possible option is if you can run in a water supply from another uncontaminated line, you could go with an eyewash/drench hose combination unit like the G5026: http://www.safetyemporium.com/g5026 but I guess if you could do that, you'd run it to your existing station!

5. Guardian has a downloadable ANSI summary available that is pretty good: http://www.gesafety.com/downloads/ANSIGuide.pdf I know now being able to purchase a copy is a royal PITA. Recent court rulings have confirmed that even though ANSI standards etc. may be incorporated into federal code by reference, the author still retains the copyright and may charge you for copies. Which make sense, since it does cost money to develop and publish these.

6. What an absurd example of false economy by your management. A358.1-2014 is a $60 PDF download: http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2fISEA+Z358.1-2014 This is a document that will serve your entire campus and ensure you are in full compliance. Did you take this matter to your chair with that observation in mind?

Please feel free to contact me on or off list if you have further questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Rob Toreki

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On Apr 10, 2017, at 12:39 PM, Kaufmann, Heather <kaufmann.h**At_Symbol_Here**GMERCYU.EDU> wrote:

Hi everyone,

I am having eyewash issues as well and am seeking advice.

We have an eyewash that started giving discolored water upon activation about 1 month ago. Our Plant services has slowly been looking at the problem but I think I am rapidly hitting a wall and the problem still exists. I feel like the matter is complicated as I am Lab Manager (where I get plenty of support) and Environmental Safety manager (where I get no support) and this issues affects both facets of my job.

What we observe is the the water runs orange for the first 2-5 seconds and then clears up. If we flush it at 8am, the color appears (very lightly but discernible) by 3pm. Therefore, we have been flushing the eyewash daily as labs are scheduled in that room on a daily basis. I have basically been told at this point that they think the discoloration will clear itself up over time. Although the discoloration was worse and longer today after Plant completing an overnight flush Friday to Saturday. Furthermore, this is an eyewash/safety shower combo so there is often a very slight orange tint to that water as well.

My question is whether we should insist on taking the eyewash out of use until they really resolve the problem because even with daily flushing the discoloration occurs somewhat rapidly. There is another eyewash in the lab but it is one of those faucet mounts that you have to adjust the water and remove the caps before you can use it (I had no input on the choice of this eyewash when the room was renovated.) I want to make sure I am advising my Chair properly on the matter.

Also, I asked my manager for the EHS side of my job permission to purchase a copy of ANSI Z358.1 and my request was not granted. I would really like to see the text for myself so I am thinking I need to purchase it on my own at this point. Will the actual text of the standard enlighten me more than just the free summaries that I have poured over?

Help! I just want to keep the lab safe for the students.

Thanks,
Heather

On Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 7:17 PM, Wilhelm, Monique <mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**umflint.edu> wrote:
Hello Everyone,

I know I will be seeing a lot of you on Sunday. In the meantime, I have a question that I hope someone is available to answer:

If the water system in a chemistry lab is reliant on you having to flush the water every day to have the water be clean in said eye wash, can you still say that the eye wash is meeting standards? What if you expect that water to be that way (acidic with particulates) for at least several months while you are having work done on the supply pipes? If the eye wash is not meeting standards, can you legally hold a chemistry class in there that works with corrosives? Or, do you have to close down the lab until portable eye wash solution can be provided?

I really appreciate any advice you can give me about this.

Thank you,
Monique

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* Please note new phone extension *

Heather Layton Kaufmann, Ph.D.
Environmental Safety and Laboratories Manager
School of Arts & Sciences
Gwynedd Mercy University

1325 Sumneytown Pike
P.O. Box 901
Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437
e-mail:kaufmann.h**At_Symbol_Here**gmercyu.edu
Maguire Hall 236
215-646-7300 x21489
Fax: 215-542-4604

--- This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

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