DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

To Jenny Tsang, re eyewash/showers:

I do not believe there are regulations requiring drains. Our facility
has them; I know others that do not. Nevertheless, I believe it is much
better to have them. Adding a drain system obviously costs more money.
It also has the potential to create an environmental problem, i.e., that
of hazardous material going into the drain, and possibly ending up in
the water supply or the soil, unless your drains go to an on-site water
treatment facility. That being said, however, the lack of drains tends
to reduce the frequency of testing the showers (since cleanup can be
very inconvenient). Even worse, if a situation arises in which there is
an emergency requiring use of the shower, the resulting flood of water
can spread the contamination all around the lab, and create a serious
slip-and-fall hazard for the victim and others. If there was broken
glassware involved in the incident, there could then be even greater
injury.

Neil Edwards
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry
Long Island University - C. W. Post Campus
516-299-2017 voice
516-299-3944 fax
nedwards**At_Symbol_Here**liu.edu