Eyewash Inspection Software that will aid companies meet the standard, and manage their weekly, monthly inspections.
The standard guiding the placement, functionality, and maintenance requirements for emergency showers and eyewashes is ANSI/ISEA Z358.1, which was last revised in 2014. In its current form, it is the clearest and most useful tool for protecting workers from eye, face, and body injuries resulting from caustic and corrosive materials introduced by workplace incidents such as spills, splashes, and blown particulates.
The standard requires stringent testing to be conducted on a regular basis to ensure properly functioning equipment is being provided at all times if an incident were to occur.
In order to maintain compliance emergency showers and eyewashes are required to be activated weekly. All emergency showers and eyewashes should undergo a full inspection each year.
Sometimes emergency response equipment such as eyewashes and showers are omitted from a maintenance schedule, especially when priority may be give be to other emergency preparedness equipment such as eye protection and fall protection. However that’s not how OSHA views compliance, with major penalties resulting from inappropriate or inadequate eyewash and emergency shower equipment.
Using Eyewash Inspection Software will aid companies on meeting the standard, the standard itself has three minimum requirements for weekly inspections:
- Emergency equipment shall be activated weekly.
- Activation shall ensure flow of water to the head(s) of the device. Duration of the activation shall be sufficient to ensure all stagnant water is flushed from the unit itself and all sections of piping that do not form part of a constant circulation system, also known as “dead leg” portions.
- In addition to the above weekly minimum inspection it is recommended as a best practice to conduct additional weekly functional checks. The purpose of these additional checks is to fully ensure the equipment is operating correctly and is capable of providing proper first aid in the event of an emergency.
Access
- Path of travel to the safety station shall be free of obstructions.
Shower
- Shower must deliver a minimum of 20 gallons (75.7 L) per minute.
- The valve shall go from “off” to “on” in one second or less, and flushing fluid shall remain on without the use of the operator’s hands.
Eyewash/Eye/Face Wash
- Outlets shall be protected from airborne contaminants.
- The valve shall go from “off” to “on” in one second or less, and flushing fluid shall remain on without the use of the operator’s hands.
- The flushing fluid of an eyewash or eye/face wash shall cover the areas between the interior and exterior lines of a gauge at some point less than 8 inches (20.3 cm) above the eyewash nozzle.
- Must provide a means of a controlled flow to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity low enough to be non-injurious.
Combination Unit
- Combination unit components shall be capable of operating simultaneously.
- Deliver tepid flushing fluid. The required temperature range is 60° F – 100° F (16° C – 38° C).
All these checks can easily be performed using Eyewash Inspection Software or general Safety Inspection Software with a Mobile App.
Plumbed Shower and Eyewash Equipment
As a general statement, all equipment needs to be inspected weekly to ensure that there is a flushing fluid supply and that the equipment is in good repair.
Self-Contained Eyewash and Shower Equipment
Self-contained, also often referred to as “portable,” emergency response equipment is typically used in locations where there is either no access to water or at highly mobile sites where hazards are mobile.
The units should be maintained as per the manufacturer’s specific model instructions. A majority of self-contained units that use potable water also offer a sterile bacteriostatic additive option to prevent the water from growing bacteria. An exchange of the water and refill of the additive is required every three months for most additive products, as well as rinsing the unit clean between the exchanges. If an additive is not being used, then the water should be exchanged on a weekly basis, at a minimum, with a thorough tank cleaning monthly. On an annual basis, self-contained units are required to undergo the full test just as plumbed units do.
Who Should Conduct the Inspections?
The question is often asked whether a company must hire a certified tester to conduct the weekly and annual inspections. Fortunately, there are no prerequisite or certification requirements to be able to test the equipment, although having a complete understanding of the installation and performance requirements will aid in ensuring conformance. There are various training tools, including Online Competent Person Training, offered by equipment manufacturers and others for individuals to become subject-matter experts. This allows company personnel to get familiar with what to look for and how to conduct the tests appropriately.
Facilities that contain hundreds of shower and eyewash units should strive to create as many subject-matter experts as possible. Once trained, the weekly checks can be completed rather quickly. Mobile Eyewash Inspection Software is available for eyewash and emergency shower inspections. These tools are easy to use and will schedule, manage, track and report on any type of inspection. Use Cases include fire extinguisher barcode system, eyewash stations, emergency showers, equipment or asset inspection system or facilities inspection software. Inspections are performed via the Mobile app which is available on iOS, Android and Windows devices. The user identifies the inspection point by scanning a barcode, or picking from a list based on location. The Mobile App will then display the list of custom Forms or Checklists. Mobile Inspection Software provides the tools to perform these regular inspections, with speed and efficiency. All inspections are recorded and store in the cloud, making companies audit ready and easing the burden of compliance.
IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identification, incident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure. Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDOR. HazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com