Javascript Menu by Deluxe-Menu.com
Skip to main content
more options

Emergency Shower and Eyewash Information

 

Emergency Showers and Eyewashes (SEW) are important safety devices designed to protect laboratory workers from chemical exposures when an accident occurs. However, to gain the most protection, emergency showers and eyewashes must be used and maintained properly. As someone who may come to rely on the safety device someday, there are a few simple things you can do to get the most out of this important safety device:

 

  1. Always preplan your experiments and what you will do in case of an emergency. Always identify the locations of the nearest emergency shower and eyewash before working with hazardous chemicals.
  2. Follow the guidelines outlined in the SEW use guide below.
  3. EH&S conducts annual inspections of SEWs, laboratory personnel are encouraged to test SEWs on a regular basis (monthly for emergency showers and weekly for eyewashes). Laboratory personnel only need to activate the units to let the water flow for a few minutes to test the units. Testing these units on a regular basis ensures they operate properly, help to maintain the units and avoid costly repairs, and help to prevent the buildup of sediment and harmful bacteria. Check with your Building Coordinator for the location of the emergency shower test kit and instructions.
  4. Always report any malfunctioning SEWs to your Building Coordinator immediately to have the SEWs repaired. If either the Emergency shower or eyewash is not working properly, let other people in the lab know this by hanging up a sign (such as the one below) on the unit.
  5. Contact Joanna Lynch at 255-4288 whenever a new emergency shower or eyewash has been installed in your lab so the unit can be added to the EH&S inventory and included as part of the annual SEW inspection program.

 

Return to Chemical and Lab Safety