E-Newsletter

Safety and Savings Tips For February 2014, from All Safety Products, Inc.

EYE PROTECTION: One Size Does Not Fit All

When it comes to safety eyewear, the right fit is essential for comfort, performance and most importantly, protection. If your safety glasses do not fit securely or there are large gaps in coverage, you risk a serious eye injury from flying debris or particles.

To ensure that your eyewear fits properly, some styles offer adjustment features or are available in multiple sizes to accommodate a variety of facial shapes, giving you a customized fit.  Workers will be more likely to wear their safety eyewear if it fits them comfortably, increasing compliance and decreasing eye injuries.

At All Safety Products, Inc., we offer a large selection of protective eyewear and safety products from numerous suppliers to fit your budget without sacrificing the quality and comfort your employees expect when wearing safety apparel and equipment. For your convenience, here is a link to our main protective eyewear product category, https://www.allsafetyproducts.com/protective-eyewear.html .

Eyewash and Showers

The following are some highlights from OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.151 and the ANSI Z358.1 Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment.  Please refer to ANSI and OSHA websites for further detail since this is only a summary.

All Safety Products sells eyewash stations and protective eyewear that meet ANSI standards.

Medical Services and First Aid: 29 CFR 1910.151

1910 . 151(c) 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."

ANSI Z358.1-2009 Standard

ANSI Z358.1 is a voluntary standard that further clarifies what the minimum requirements for suitable facilities are since the Code of Federal Regulations does not offer further documentation.

This is meant to summarize key points within the standard, but not act as a substitute for it It is recommended the ANSI Z358.1-2009 be consulted directly for further detail. For additional information, check out ANSI online at www.ansi.org.

Emergency fixtures must take no more than 10 seconds

(approx 55 feet) to reach and the path to the fixture must not be hindered with obstructions. 

Flush both eyes simultaneously.

Minimum flushing rates:

• Self Contained Eyewash Equipment Minimum - .4 GPM for 15 minutes
• Eye/Face Wash Equipment Minimum - 3 GPM at 30 psi for 15 minutes
• Plumbed and Self Contained Emergency Showers Minimum - 20 GPM at 30 psi for 15 minutes

Valve should easily activate in a second or less and remain open on its own until intentionally turned off keeping hands free to open eyelids .

• Plumbed valves must be locked - out to prevent unauthorized shut off .
• Tepid flushing fluid must be supplied in all types of emergency equipment applications (temperature between 60 degrees F and l00 degrees F).
• A Safety/Health Advisor is the designated professional to determine the best temperature parameters on a case-by-case basis.
• Components of combination units shall operate individually and simultaneously in accordance with the appropriate performance requirements in the standard.
• Each part of the combination unit shall be certified when activated individually and simultaneously in accordance with the procedures outlines in the standard.
• If there is a potential for freezing conditions, product specifically designed to avoid freezing should be utilized .
• Plumbed units should be activated on a weekly basis long enough to be sure flushing fluid is provided. This helps clear sedimentation and flushes stagnant water reducing the chance of microbial hazards .
• Emergency equipment shall be inspected annually to confirm that the equipment is installed and operating in accordance with the requirements .
• Emergency equipment must be easily identified by use of a highly visible sign.
• Adequate lighting must be provided in the area surrounding emergency equipment.

Eye Safety for Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery

At All Safety Products, we want to call your attention to an excellent article on the CDC website. After the structural collapse of a large building, emergency responders and support personnel are often exposed to hazardous agents and conditions.

The article here provides suggestions for providing workers adequate eye protection and suggested safety tips.  Although this is not an updated article, it still provides excellent, sound advice. READ HERE, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eyesafe.html.


Types of Emergency Eyewash Devices:

Self-Contained Portable Units: An ANSI compliant portable gravity-fed eyewash flushes eyes for 15 minutes at a minimum of 0.4 gallons/minute by using only 7 gallons of water. Unit is ideal anywhere water supply is not available. Where freezing may be a concern, heated units are
available to help prevent freezing in cold environments.

Self-Contained Pressurized Units: Ideal for providing emergency protection in areas where permanent water supply is not available. These units are pressurized during installation and may be provided with a cart for mobility. 10 and 15 gallon models meet tthe ANSI Standard for eyewash of .4 GPM for 15 minutes.

Plumbed Units: A plumbed eyewash unit is permanently connected to a source of potable (tap) water that is delivered from the plant supply of a separate supply source.

Personal Wash Units: Personal eyewashes are considered supplemental equipment under the ANSI standard. It is intended for immediate use, but it must be followed up by the usage of emergency product that can provide a minimum of 15 minutes of flushing fluid continuously. As an example, personal eyewash would be placed in immediate proximity to a worker's area for immediate treatment. However, they would then proceed to the nearest eyewash or eye/face wash fixture for the
full 15-minute flush as required by the ANSI standard.

Inverted Stream Eyewash: Provides a medically superior way to irrigate the eyes as the inverted
stream directs the hazard away from the punctum (drains) of the eyes and nasal cavity.

About All Safety Products

We are all about trying to save you money when we are able to. It is our shipping policy to only charge you the actual shipping/handling costs. Sometimes there is a shipping error on our website.  We do review all orders for accuracy and pleasantly surprise our customers when we notify them of an adjustment in their favor. We make money on products, not shipping!