Published by the International Safety Equipment Association, ANSI Z358.1 establishes minimum performance and use requirements for eyewash and shower equipment.

Complying with the standards can prevent injuries and fatalities as well as lost time and money. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) has stepped up enforcement, particularly for employers who have a history of serious or repeated violations.

BEST PRACTICES

Tepid Water
Excessively hot or cold water temperatures in safety showers and eyewashes can exacerbate the very injuries this safety equipment is designed to reduce. In the 2009 revision of ANSI Z358.1, the standard outlines suitable water temperatures as tepid, defined as a range between 60˚ and 100˚ F (15.5˚ to 37.77˚ C). It also specifies a full 15-minute drench or irrigation cycle, a length of time that must be considered with the victim in mind.

Understanding that average water temperatures in a residential shower generally hover around 105˚ F (40.5˚ C) and room temperatures are considered comfortable between 68-70˚ F (20-21.1˚ C), a shower or eyewash running temperatures in the lower ANSI required range fails to factor for victim comfort. Selecting a thermostatic mixing valve that offers protection against temperature spikes is an ideal solution to providing reliable temperature controls.

AXION®
AXION'S ground-breaking technology continues to change the emergency response landscape by offering the only eye/face wash duplicating the methodology recommended and used by medical professionals.

The ideal approach in chemical or particulate eye injuries is to sweep contaminants away from the interior of the eye. This method is practiced in doctor's office and hospitals yet was not followed in the safety industry. Haws® recognized this need to protect the human eye and other internal organs and reversed the water flow to flush from the inside out for maximum effectiveness, injury reduction and enhanced victim comfort.