One question our customers often ask is, ‘Do I need to install a safety shower or eyewash station next to my flammable liquids cabinet?’. So, we thought we’d dedicate this blog to providing the long answer to that question — because the short answer is, ‘It depends…’. We’ll detail the 3 key factors that will help you determine your need for a safety shower or eyewash station: the Australian Safety Standards, Work Health and Safety Regulations, and your own workplace risk assessment. Let’s get started.
1. Australian Safety Standards
The first step to take when deciding whether you need a decontamination station for your workplace is referring to AS 1940:2017 – The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.
Refer to AS 1940:2017 to determine your need for an emergency decontamination state
In the Australian Standard, it explains that flammable liquid storage cabinets that contain small quantities of unopened packaged chemicals do not require an eyewash or safety shower.
However, if the containers are opened anywhere near the cabinet, you must install an eyewash unit within 2 - 10 metres of the cabinet.
At the same time, a safety shower must also be installed if:
- Quantities of flammable liquids exceed 2,000 litres, or
- Determined by a risk assessment, or
- There is a requirement under WHS Regulations.
But even the WHS Regulations are not 100% clear on the matter. We’ll look at those regulations in detail now.
2. Work Health and Safety Regulations
It is a requirement of the Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations that organisations provide first aid facilities that are accessible to every worker:
Division 3 First aid
42 Duty to provide first aid
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking at a workplace must ensure:
(a) the provision of first aid equipment for the workplace; and
(b) that each worker at the workplace has access to the equipment; and
(c) access to facilities for the administration of first aid.
Maximum penalty: In the case of an individual—$6 000.
In the case of a body corporate—$30 000.
When selecting first aid equipment for your workplace, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. The considerations that will help determine your first aid equipment needs include considering the nature of the hazards, the size and location of the workplace, and the number of people present in the area.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting emergency decontamination equipment for the workplace
What the WHS Regulations are implying is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to emergency equipment. You must always assess the unique features of your own worksite.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What are the health hazards of the chemicals in the cabinet?
- What quantities are being stored?
- How many workers, contractors or other persons are likely to be exposed to the chemicals?
Chances are the flammable liquids inside the cabinet are skin and eye irritants and, in some cases, strong corrosives. Even small quantities of these chemicals could cause a serious injury to the eyes and skin of workers. By conducting a risk assessment, you will be able to identify your unique workplace risks and hazards, so you can better understand your first aid requirements.
3. Risk Assessment
Unless your workplace carries only a small quantity of packaged flammable liquids (that are never opened near the cabinet), you should conduct a risk assessment. The risk assessment will determine the risk of injury to your workers and help you decide on the type of emergency equipment that you’ll require.
Your risk assessment should consider the following important points:
- Hazard - What type of injuries could the chemicals cause? Would both eyes be injured? Could the whole body be immersed?
- Treatment - What is the recommended treatment and flushing times for each injury? Is water a suitable flushing fluid for this type of chemical?
- Severity of injury - What quantities of chemicals are carried onsite? How much of the body could be covered in chemicals? Could the injuries be fatal or cause permanent blindness?
- Number of affected workers - How many workers might require treatment at the same time?
Your risk assessment should consider the unique risks and hazards apparent in your worksite
Eyewash Units
Regardless of the quantities of flammable liquids that you store in your cabinet, you are required by law to provide eyewash equipment if the chemical containers are opened.
Based on your own workplace risk assessment, you might choose to consider the following eyewash options:
- Bottled eyewash - One-use bottles of eyewash, hand-held and can only treat one eye at a time.
- Self-contained eyewash - Single or dual-nozzled eyewash with a limited fluid supply.
- Plumbed eyewash - Dual-nozzled eyewash that provides a steady flow of fresh clean water from a continuous water source.
- Multiple units - Installing additional units if there is a risk of more than one worker being injured at the same time.
Eyewash stations can be self-contained or plumbed, but they must be able to deliver at least 1.5 litres of flushing fluid (to both eyes simultaneously) for a period of 15 minutes.
Whatever eyewash options you choose, it is essential to remember that standard taps and hoses — or emergency showers — can’t be used as eyewash equipment. This is because the eyes are made up of sensitive tissue and require specialised equipment. The equipment should regulate the water pressure and temperature, as well as filtering the water to prevent foreign bodies from entering the eyes.
IMPORTANT: When selecting emergency showers or eyewash always refer to Australian Standard AS4775:2007 — Emergency eyewash and shower equipment.
Hoses & Safety Showers
To determine the need for a safety shower in your workplace, you must assess the risk of body injuries.
For example, if a worker was saturated in flammable liquids (even if they weren’t injured by the chemicals), their skin, hair and clothing would immediately become highly flammable. Therefore, a safety shower or drench hose would be critical to their safety.
Emergency showers are designed to quickly wash away chemicals from the body by delivering flushing fluid at a significant pressure. These showers can also be self-contained or plumbed but need to be capable of providing at least 75.7 litres of flushing fluid for 15 minutes.
To minimise the risk of injury due to chemical exposure, you might consider installing one of the following options:
- Drench hose - Hand held hose plumbed to a permanent water source.
- Self-contained safety shower - Limited fluid supply to a full-sized shower head.
- Plumbed shower - Fully body shower connected to a permanent source of clean fresh water.
- Combination safety shower/eyewash - A combination unit that flushes the eyes as well as the body, connected to a permanent water supply.
- Multiple units - If more than one worker could be saturated with flammable liquids at the same time.
A combination unit provides flushing fluid for the eyes and the body at the same timeNeed Some Help With Emergency Decontamination Equipment?
If you’re still not sure whether your organisation requires an emergency shower or an eyewash station, we’ve got two eBooks that can help you make a more informed decision.
Both of our eBooks are written in easy-to-understand language and offer real-world examples as well as expert advice. Grab your copies now and take the next step in Chemical Safety Management.
- How to select and use compliant emergency showers and eyewash equipment
- Essential Considerations When Storing Flammable Liquids Indoors
