- Employees must know proper emergency eyewash procedure.eye image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
Warehouse workers are susceptible to a number of workplace injuries, including those to the eye. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, eye injuries cost more than $300 million annually in terms of lost production time, medical care and worker's compensation. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the internationally-recognized organization responsible for manufacturing guidelines, has set forth requirements for emergency eyewash and shower equipment. - Warehouse employees must be instructed on proper use of the emergency eyewash station. ANSI Standard No. Z358.1 requires that emergency eyewash stations should take no more than 10 seconds to reach from any direction in a room, and workers should be able to quickly locate and use the control valve. The eyewash station should be operable in one second or less, and should remain on until manually turned off.
- The eyewash station water should be potable and have a controlled flow to both eyes simultaneously. The water pressure should be low to prevent eye injury. The water temperature should not be more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), and eyewash stations that are outdoors should be freeze protected.
- ANSI requires that eyewash stations be turned on to flush the line and ensure proper function on a weekly basis. The area surrounding the eyewash station should be painted with a bright color, and it should be identified with prominent signage. The eyewash station nozzles should be protected from airborne contamination, but the protective covers should not impede usage by requiring a separate motion to be removed.
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