Emergency Safety Showers: Frequently Asked Questions

Safety showers are quick drenching/flushing units meant to contain the effects of an emergency involving contact with injurious corrosive substances. The ANSI refers to these as emergency safety showers, and the words emergency shower and safety shower are often used interchangeably.

Safety showers are crucial as they provide on-the-spot decontamination, most often within the first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous substance. The showers enable exposed workers to wash off hazardous substances that may cause a serious injury.

Additionally, safety shower equipment may also be used to flush off the contaminants off clothes or to extinguish clothing fires.

While neither OSHA nor ANSI Z358.1-2014 standards mention the duration for which a contact area should be washed, the safety shower is required to be capable of providing flushing liquid for at least 15 minutes. The flushing time may be modified depending on the substance responsible for the hazard.

For instance, a five-minute wash may be sufficient for mild irritants and a 20-minute wash for moderate to severe irritants. Where corrosives and strong alkalis are involved, one may need a good rinsing session of about 30 minutes and 60 minutes, respectively.

However, a good wash in a safety shower is not a substitute for a thorough medical examination that must not be avoided.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 indirectly talks about the need for safety showers as well as eye-wash stations for worker safety and to meet the agency’s medical and first-aid requirements. Part (c) of the standard states, “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.”

While this standard does not go into the details regarding safety showers, industry-specific information may be found in other standards. For instance, facilities to counteract lime or acid burns are a must for the pulp and paper industry; and where open tanks are present, like in facilities with dipping and coating applications, an emergency safety shower must be located within easy reach of workers.

The emergency shower equipment should be so located that a person can reach it in no more than 10 seconds, as per ANSI. This 10-second rule may be modified according to the nature of operations/substances used to consider the potential severity of injury such substance may cause. For operations involving highly corrosive chemicals, a safety shower may be required to be closer to the workstation. However, it should not be so close that the corrosive chemicals contaminate it.

Additionally, safety shower units should be set up in a well-lit location that can be reached via an unobstructed path. The units should be identified with appropriate safety shower signage and be located where workers can easily see them. These units should not come in contact with any electrical equipment. It may also be a good idea to set up a safety shower near an emergency exit where possible so that emergency responders can reach the individual easily. 

Emergency shower equipment may be required in areas/facilities such as laboratories, spraying units, battery charging areas, hazardous substance disposal areas, high dust areas, etc.

ANSI Z358.1-2014 standard has prescribed specific requirements that safety showers must meet. The showerhead should be mounted between 82 and 96 inches off the floor, with the valve no higher than 69 inches, and must flow water at the rate of 20 gallons per minute (GPM) at 30 psi for at least 15 minutes. It should produce a 20-inch diameter spray pattern at 60 inches above the surface where the user stands. The sprayhead center should be at least 16 inches away from any wall, door, or obstruction. It is recommended that the showerhead be mounted. 

The shower should be so designed that it can be activated in under a second and support hands-free operation. Enclosed safety showers should have an unobstructed area of 86.4 cm (34 inches) in diameter. ANSI also requires the water supplied to be in the tepid range of 60? to 100?.

ANSI standards state that safety showers should be flushed weekly to ensure proper flow and eliminate any deposits. Plumbed emergency showers should be activated weekly for a sufficient amount of time to verify proper operation and flushing fluid availability. Self-contained safety showers should undergo weekly visual inspections to determine if the flushing fluid needs to be changed or supplemented. 

In addition to weekly activations, regular maintenance practices such as reviewing equipment location and so on go a long way in ensuring the safety shower complies with all applicable regulations and will perform as intended when required. The ANSI standard also mandates a more comprehensive annual evaluation.

While OSHA or ANSI standards do not talk about any provisions for the disposal of wastewater, it is important to consider where the wastewater will go so that it does not create a hazard. It is good to have drains with safety showers to ensure any washed-off harmful substances do not accumulate and create a potential health hazard. Drains can also prevent other risks associated with wet/slippery surfaces and water damage to the facility.

Additionally, the routine testing of emergency shower units may be hampered due to the absence of drains, where the wastewater must be collected and removed manually.