DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

Gordon,

Appendix B of the ANSI Z358.1-2004 standard (American National Standard for
Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment) contains a section (B5) on
Placement of Emergency Equipment in which the following is stated:  "It is
recognized that the average person covers a distance of approximately 55
feet in 10 seconds when walking at a normal pace."

So this fact should be considered among other factors in determining how
far away emergency eyewash and shower equipment can be from an injurious
material exposure in order to meet the requirement for making such
equipment immediately available - but in no instance longer than 10 seconds
of time away.  As Section B5 of Appendix B points out other considerations
for eyewash/shower placement include the physical and emotional state of a
potential victim, what other hazards may be present along the path of
travel from the exposure location to the emergency equipment, and whether
or not the materials involved are highly corrosive -- if the latter is the
case, one may want to insist on having the equipment much closer than the
55 feet the average person would traverse in 10 seconds.

All of the above being said, it should be noted that the just-cited
appendix is NOT part of the ANSIZ358.1-2004 standard but is included with
it for information only.

I hope the above information is of some assistance.

Regards,

Stephen

Stephen Hemperly, MS, CIH, CSP, CLSO
Voice: (408) 717-7704; Fax: (408) 717-9051
Advisory Industrial Hygienist
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
3403 Yerba Buena Road - Room 1345B
San Jose, CA 95135-1500
steve.hemperly**At_Symbol_Here**hitachigst.com

None of us is as strong as all of us.

Industrial hygienists are scientists and engineers committed to protecting
the health and safety of people in the workplace and the community.

                                                                           
             Gordon Miller                                                 
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                                                              Subject 
                                       [DCHAS-L] Definition of Acceptable  
                                       Distance to a Safety Eyewash/Shower 
             04/10/2007 01:19                                              
             PM                                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
             Please respond to                                             
               Gordon Miller                                               
                                                                  
                                                                           
                                                                           



The ANSI Z358.1-1990 standard specified the distance to a safety
eyewash/shower be 100 feet or 10 seconds travelling time or 100 feet.
The 2004 version of the standard specifies 10 seconds.

How do you define acceptable distance?
*  By time only (10 secs.)
*  By 10 secs./100 ft., or
*  By 10 secs./A distance other than 100 ft.

Please advise.

"Inquiring minds want to know!"
Gordon Miller
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
P.O. Box 808  (L-379)
Livermore, California 94550
(925) 423-8036
Fax (925) 422-5176
miller22**At_Symbol_Here**llnl.gov