SAFETY
1,500L Emergency Tank Shower delivers a controlled flow of 76 litres per minute of water for 15 minutes
minutes. Tis provides enough time to remove contaminated clothing and rinse thoroughly. If the flow rate is too low, hazardous substances may not be completely washed off the skin, leading to ongoing chemical burns. Water flow from safety showers is much greater than the standard home shower head, which averages 8-11
litres per minute of flow. Te dangers vary by each chemical’s specific properties, but a deluge of water is generally required to wash them away. Eye wash equipment must deliver at least 12 litres per minute for 15 minutes to ensure a complete decontamination.
OPERATION Safety equipment must be accessible and easy to-operate, even with impaired vision. Safety showers and eye wash
1,200L self-contained mobile safety shower is ideal to supplement fixed installations
withdraw from the temperature extreme to protect the body. Standards recommend at least 15 minutes of shower time to completely rinse away most hazardous chemicals. Te only way to ensure this length of time is adhered to is to control the water temperature in the tepid range.
FLOW RATE Safety showers deliver a water flow of at least 76 litres per minute for 15
valves are designed so the flushing flow remains on without the use of the operator’s hands. Te control valve must go from ‘off’ to ‘on’ in one second or less. Te provision of safety showers that meet these standards can be challenging within the mining industry due to the often-remote nature of these sites, the lack of a reliable water supply or low water pressure. In these circumstances, a self-contained tank fed safety shower is ideal, supplemented by mobile units to manoeuvre around the site as the location of the hazard changes.
Te ANSI- and EN-compliant Hughes tank-fed safety shower features an overhead tank holding 1,500 litres of water. Upon activation, either via a push bar or hands- free foot panel, the shower will drench the casualty with 76 litres per minute of potable
water for up to 15 minutes ensuring a thorough decontamination. An optional eye wash can also be included. Te jacketed and insulated models suit ambient temperatures up to 40C, and with the addition of a chiller unit will operate in extreme hot climates up to 55C. Te chiller unit is crucial to prevent water within the tank reaching dangerous levels and potentially scalding a casualty upon activation. For cold climates, the immersion heated models are essential to prevent water within the tank freezing. In environments where temperatures can drop to -50C, the polar tank shower incorporates a double-skinned fibreglass insulated cubicle fitted with internal heaters to protect the user from the elements. With a wide selection of optional fittings, a tank shower can be customised to fit the site’s exacting requirements. On sites where the location of the hazard changes as a project progresses it is wise to supplement fixed installations with a mobile unit. Te Hughes 1,200 litre mobile safety shower with ABS closed bowl eye/face wash unit allows flexibility of location, being easily transported behind a suitable vehicle using the towing hitch provided. Te safety of the workforce is paramount. Whilst standard hygiene facilities have their place as part of workplace health and safety, in the case of hazardous substances they cannot replace the efficiency and effectiveness of precisely designed emergency safety showers and eye wash equipment to provide a full decontamination process.
Wendy Baker is with Hughes Safety Showers.
www.hughes-safety.com
www.engineerlive.com 33
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