The Importance of Eyewash Station Maintenance & Inspection
Effective eye protection requires regular eyewash station maintenance and inspection. Learn more about maintenance requirements to keep your workplace safe.
The safety of workers in hazardous environments is paramount, especially when it comes to eye protection. Regular eyewash station maintenance and inspection are essential for reducing the risk of injury or illness due to contact with hazardous materials. By understanding the requirements for maintaining eyewash stations, employers can ensure that their workplace remains safe and compliant with health and safety regulations. Read on to learn why an eyewash station is vital for businesses and the importance of maintaining them.
What is an Eyewash Station?
An eyewash station is a device used to flush toxic chemicals or other materials out of the eyes. It typically consists of two fountains (or heads) mounted on either side of the basin with soft-flowing water that can flush both eyes simultaneously if necessary. Eyewash stations are typically located near work areas where hazardous substances may cause an eye injury. Alternatives to emergency eye wash stations include portable eyewash units and safety showers.
The Importance of Eyewash Station Maintenance and Inspection
Regularly inspecting and maintaining your eyewash station is important for safety reasons and potentially prevents costly future repairs or replacements. Potential issues with eyewash stations include:
Infections: Bacterial growth can occur in stagnant water sitting in the unit for extended periods without use. Regular flushing helps rid any standing water from bacterial contamination build-up over time.
Corrosion: With exposure to factors like humidity, high temperatures, and salt air, metal components can corrode over time, compromising water flow performance. Weekly visual inspection can help prevent issues before they begin to impact performance.
Blockages: Stones or debris in the fountain’s valves can lead to blockages. Regular checks help make sure blockages don’t occur due to dirt build-up over exposure periods. Disassembling and cleaning fountain components every so often also helps prevent this issue.
Leaks: Leaks can occur in the plumbing or seals, making it difficult to ensure enough water is flowing into the basin quickly enough and with adequate pressure. Regularly checking for potential leaks helps prevent costly repairs or replacements.
Testing: Testing nozzles each month should become part of your routine maintenance program.
Cleaning: Regular cleaning helps make sure that eyewash stations are free from debris and dust. Cleaning also helps prevent bacterial growth or corrosion build-up.
Insufficient pressure: To properly flush contaminants from the eyes, the water pressure from eyewash stations needs to be sufficient.
How Often Do Eyewash Stations Need To Be Checked?
Conduct weekly functional testing on all parts, including valves and nozzles and annual performance tests to catch any issues early before they become serious problems impacting functioning efficiency.
During annual reviews, you should check whether any exterior surfaces or parts have begun showing signs of corrosion.
You should also check for any blockage or debris in the fountain’s valves and make sure all seals are intact to prevent potential leaks. Finally, you should ensure that the eyewash unit’s water supply is connected properly and functioning correctly.
Above all, keep proper records detailing the maintenance and inspection of your eyewash station. This will ensure that you are meeting all safety requirements and helping to identify any potential issues that may arise in the future.
Book an Annual Inspection Today
Annual inspections are critical for ensuring the proper operation of emergency showers and eyewash units in any workplace. Australian standards include eyewash station maintenance requirements to ensure the safety of your staff.
At Ecospill, we provide comprehensive eyewash station maintenance. Our certified technicians assess flow rate, nozzles, battery connections, safety signage, inspection records, and operational time. Furthermore, our inspections provide support through maintenance advice and custom-made recommendations to maintain compliance with standards. Ecospill’s annual shower inspections ensure that your vital emergency equipment works when you need it the most. By booking a yearly inspection and maintenance check, you can be sure that your eyewash station is operating efficiently and safely when it matters most. Contact Ecospill today.