International legislation covering the installation, operation and maintenance of Emergency Safety Showers and Eyebath equipment is becoming more stringent due to the increased use of chemicals or other substances hazardous to health.
It is widely recognised that when an accident happens then the affected area must be flushed with clean, cool water for a period of 10 to 15 minutes to ensure all chemicals are removed. The casualty must then seek expert medical advice, and in any case of doubt they must go immediately to hospital with a suitable dressing covering the affected area. Typical of such occurrences are the spilling, splashing or spraying of acids, caustics, or other dangerous or corrosive agents. Other common hazards are fire and explosion. Where flammable liquids are present there is a hazard of clothing becoming ignited, only the prompt use of an Emergency Shower or Eyebath Unit prevents major injury or death.
For this reason it is imperative that the correct Emergency Equipment is purchased and that it is suitably located, properly installed and efficiently maintained. To ensure that the manufacturers of this type of equipment all produce products that will be adequate when needed there are several standards that have been published. The American National Standard ANSI Z 358.1 is by far the most comprehensive, being first published in 1981 and subsequently revised in 1990 and 1998. There is an Indian Standard which represents an abbreviated version of the American Standard, and a German Standard (DIN 12899) for Laboratory Showers and Eyebaths. It must be noted and emphasised that the German Standard specifies lower flow rates for Laboratory Units than the American Standard does for Industrial Units. For this reason it is imperative that the lower flow rate Laboratory Showers are not installed in industrial applications as this could have disastrous consequences.