Qualities Of Effective Self Contained Eyewash Stations

By Jessica Green


Quick and efficient response to emergencies is vital in the prevention of calamities. A self contained eyewash station is a device installed to wash off harmful chemicals or particles from the eyes in case these harmful substances enter the eye. This is done to prevent damage to the eyes and avert severe side effects such as blindness and other forms of incapacitation. This is also important in reducing the effect of the exposure to the eyes.

Accessibility at all times must be considered in setting up a station. In the event of an accident, it should be accessible by all employees or everyone around the work environment. It should be accessed without any trouble. They should also be centered mostly in areas with high potential of calamities in case of an accident so that many people can be served as much as possible. In should also be centrally located in that zoned area to ensure easy access during emergencies.

The location of the station must also be free of anything that might obstruct its immediate use such as fences. A clearly visible sign post should also be made at the locale so that anyone can easily identify it during an emergency. The signage needs to be in bold letters and be made in a language that is simple and easy to understand.

The installation and maintenance of the stations must also fall within the limits of a budget. Maintenance needs to be done on a weekly basis to ensure smooth operation and drain any clogging that could accrue in the system. A cost effective system is not only important in ensuring effectiveness but also improves access to quality emergency services when an accident occurs.

The dynamics of operating the system must be easy and comprehendible. A single motion must be all that the system needs to be activated and this must be fast. The valve should be located at a place that can be easily accessed by anyone and activated. Simple operation of the system guarantees prevention of adverse effects during emergencies.

Portability is also an important quality in an eyewash station. This means that it must be light and easy to transport to areas that might not be accessible such as hilly terrains. Heavy stations are not only cumbersome to operate and transport but also require huge maintenance costs. The more portable it is, the easier it is to transport it to area where for instance workers cannot move by themselves during emergencies.

A proper station should have cleaning agents that do not require mixing and measuring before they can be used. The cleaning agents must be mixed in anticipation of an emergency and this should be done in a clean environment to prevent infection since eyes are very prone to any kind of infection. The solution to be used ought to be sterile and devoid of bacteria.

The flow of the cleaning agent should also be consistent. The agent must fully remove all harmful substances from the eyes and leave all fragments of it. In adverse incidents, a consistent fifteen to twenty minute flow is required to completely wash off the chemicals.




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