Good morning,

The concern that has been raised to me in the past had to do with the potential for chemical spills in the laboratory going down a floor drain.  I don’t recall an incident which would have resulted such a release, but I have experienced several floods in laboratories without floor drains.

Ruth Ann:

You want drains for safety and water management – and to prevent flooding the floor below the eyewash.  Also install non-skid on the floor around the shower/eyewash because wet waxed floors are slippery.   The amount of contamination that will be washed off in a L/min (eyewash) or gal/min (shower) will quickly dilute potential environmental concern by the time it reaches the connection to the POTW.

Harry

Good Afternoon,

Once again the following concern has arisen:  lab eyewash/safety shower units cannot drain with regular water due to possible contamination of the environment, e.g., if someone were washing off a sulfuric acid spill. Can someone provide a reference that this is (or is not) okay?

Thanks!

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann Cook Murphy, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

Co-Chairperson, Health Professions Advisory Committee

Amy LeVesconte Professorship of Chemistry

JAMP Faculty Director

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

900 College Street

Belton, TX  76513-2599

Phone 254.295.4542

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