Businesses that expose workers to potentially hazardous chemicals that could cause blindness or damage to their eyesight are required by law to have working emergency eyewash stations available at all times.
In some cases, an emergency shower that can wash hazardous materials — especially corrosive chemicals or radiation — from workers’ bodies also should be used.
Using an Eyewash Station
In the event of an exposure to hazardous chemicals, flushing the eyes of an affected employee in a timely manner is critical.
Eyes should be flushed continuously for a minimum of 15 minutes, even if it seems as if most of the chemical has been removed. Even small amounts of corrosive chemicals and other hazardous agents can cause damage or blindness.
While flushing, the affected worker should keep his or her eyes open at all times, rotating the eyeballs in all direction to remove all contaminants from around the eyes. In some instances, the injured person may need assistance from co-workers in holding their eyelids open.
Emergency Showers
Like eyewashes, getting a worker whose body has been exposed to hazardous chemicals into an emergency shower immediately can minimise the amount of injury or damage caused by the exposure. Delaying treatment even a few seconds can result in irreparable tissue damage or chemical burns.
In some instances, emergency showers that haven’t been used in a while may run discolored, rusty-looking water for a few seconds. That’s okay: Don’t wait for this discolored water to run out before getting the worker into the emergency shower. It won’t harm them and it may even save their life.
Many emergency showers are not equipped with sewer drains. Again, that’s not a big deal. The water can be cleaned up later. The important thing is to get the person under the emergency shower as quickly as possible even if drains have not been installed.
Emergency showers should be used to flush the person with lots of water for at last 15 minutes. Make sure to protect the affected persons’ eyes from inadvertent contamination.
Contact Poison Control
While the person is being flushed by the emergency shower, another person can help by removing contaminated clothing, jewelry, and shoes. Don’t let modesty slow you down because every second counts. The person can be covered with a clean lab coat or other clothing after they are out of danger.
While the worker is being treated at either the eyewash station or an emergency shower, another employee should contact the US Poison Control Centre at 800/222-1222 for advice on additional protocols involving the particular chemical to which the employee has been exposed.
Information about the chemical also should be available in the Material Safety Data Sheet found in the MSDS binder that must be hanging in any workplace using hazardous chemicals. The sheet for the chemical involved should be removed and sent along with the affected worker to the hospital so that the doctors treating them has the information they need.