I've run across this same discussion many times in my 32 year career. No one
has been able to show me any Federal requirements for the drains - but
certainly many requirements for the showers (depending upon the hazard
assessment). In the past, we have agreed that water on the floor presented
no unusual hazard (albeit a mess to clean up) so the shower was left intact
and drain-less. In other cases we installed step-in shower stalls with a 4-6
inch raised front panel to help contain the water (obviously not overly
effective if one uses the minimum 15 minutes under the shower rule). I've
always believed that a wet floor was better than a burned body!
Regards,
Tom Marchetto
Quality Assurance
Russell-Stanley Plastics
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald A. Wiebe" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 11:56 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Safety Shower Requirement

> I'm looking for input on safety regulations with regards to
> laboratory showers.  We have several showers located in the hallways
> around our clinical laboratories at the University of Wisconsin
> Hospital and Clinics.  A State of Wisconsin survey team have sited us
> for having these showers and not providing drains below the showers.
> Their recommendation is to put in drains or remove the showers.  The
> UW hospital safety officer in formed me they plan to remove the
> showers - unless I can find a regulation that would argue in favor of
> these safety devices. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
> Seems like we make strides in the right direction and then can
> quickly retreat!
>
> Thanks for any input!
>
> Donald A. Wiebe, PhD
> Madison, WI
>

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