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By Dr Arun Unnikrishnan
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is dedicated to ensuring safe working conditions for employees 1. A critical aspect of workplace safety involves the provision of emergency eyewash stations and safety showers, particularly in environments where hazardous materials are present 1. These facilities are essential for minimizing the severity of injuries resulting from exposure to corrosive or otherwise harmful substances 1. The primary OSHA standard addressing this requirement is found in 29 CFR 1910.151(c), which mandates that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use 1. OSHA emphasizes the importance of these regulations by enforcing them through fines 1.
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c) specifically addresses the need for emergency equipment where "injurious corrosive materials" are present 1. OSHA defines a corrosive material as a chemical that causes visible destruction or irreversible alterations in living tissue at the site of contact 7. To identify such materials, employers are expected to consult Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each product used in the workplace 7. If an SDS indicates that a material is an injurious corrosive, then the provision of eyewash and safety shower facilities is generally required 4. Even for non-corrosive materials, employers must assess potential exposure during handling or use, including scenarios involving sealed dispensing containers 4. The ultimate responsibility rests with the employer to determine if employees could be exposed to hazardous materials in a manner that necessitates the protection afforded by eyewash or emergency shower equipment 4. For instance, even when handling sealed products, if there's a possibility of exposure during tasks like sampling, emergency washing facilities are needed 4.
While OSHA's standard in 29 CFR 1910.151(c) establishes the core requirement for emergency eyewash and shower facilities, it does not provide detailed specifications regarding their installation and operation 1. To address this, OSHA often refers employers to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1 standard for more specific guidance 1. It is important to note that ANSI Z358.1 is a consensus standard and not legally mandated unless adopted into regulation 11. Nevertheless, because the OSHA standard lacks specific instructions, compliance with ANSI Z358.1 is widely recognized as a means of meeting the "suitable facilities" requirement of 1910.151(c) 11. OSHA may still issue citations under 29 CFR 1910.151(c) for the failure to provide adequate drenching or flushing facilities, even if a direct violation of ANSI is not cited 11. The ANSI standard has been updated over time (e.g., 1990, 2004, 2014) 14. Consulting the latest version of ANSI Z358.1 is advisable for current best practices 14.
"Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive material, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area 1 for immediate emergency use." 2 - OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151(c)
A critical aspect of OSHA guidelines is the location and accessibility of emergency eyewash and safety shower facilities. The standard mandates that these facilities be provided "within the work area for immediate emergency use" 1. This is often interpreted as the "10-second rule," meaning that the eyewash or shower should be reachable within approximately 10 seconds from the point of potential exposure 1. For the average person, this translates to a travel distance of about 55 feet 6. In the construction industry, equipment should be no more than 100 feet from where hazardous chemicals are handled 10. Regardless of the industry, the location must be on the same level as the potential hazard 1. The path to the facility must be free of obstructions, including doors 1. Furthermore, the area should be well-lit and clearly identified with a highly visible sign 1. Employers must also consider the workplace layout to ensure unobstructed access 5. For example, an e-commerce giant chose mobile safety showers from Hughes Safety Showers for their logistic centers because plumbed-in units couldn't be consistently installed throughout the large warehouses, ensuring a rapid response within 10 seconds of a hazard 2.
OSHA guidelines, often supplemented by ANSI recommendations, also include specific technical specifications and performance standards for eyewash stations and safety showers. For safety showers that are permanently installed, a minimum supply of 30 gallons per minute (gpm) of clean water is required 10. Self-contained or portable safety showers must be capable of delivering a minimum of 20 gpm of clean water continuously for at least 15 minutes 1. The water should be dispersed in a substantial spray pattern from a water outlet located no less than 60 inches above the working surface 10. ANSI further recommends a spray pattern with a diameter of at least 20 inches at a distance of 60 inches from the showerhead, which should ideally be mounted between 82 and 96 inches from the floor, with the valve positioned no higher than 69 inches 9. For eyewash stations, both installed and portable units must be capable of delivering at least 0.4 gpm of clean water 1. Portable eyewash units must maintain this flow for a minimum of 15 minutes 10. The design should ensure that water is readily available to flush both eyes simultaneously, with flushing streams rising to approximately equal heights 10. The velocity of the water must be low enough to avoid injury to the eyes, and the unit should be designed to allow the user to hold their eyelids open while their eyes are being flushed 10. Nozzles should be protected from freezing in cold environments and from airborne contamination with airtight covers that are easily removable 10. ANSI recommends that eyewash nozzles be located at least 6 inches from any obstruction and mounted between 33 and 45 inches above the floor 13. In workplaces where both eye and face hazards exist, combination units that supply at least 3 gpm are necessary 1. For combination units, both the shower and eyewash components must be capable of operating simultaneously and providing adequate flow 14. A critical performance standard for all emergency washing equipment is the water temperature. ANSI specifies that the water must be tepid, within the range of 60 to 100°F (16 to 38°C) 1. Water temperatures outside this range can cause further harm to the injured person, either by scalding or by inducing hypothermia or thermal shock 1. Hughes Safety Showers created custom immersion heated emergency tank showers suitable for low ambient temperatures to ensure tepid water flow 2. They also provided temperature-controlled emergency safety showers ideal for environments where ammonia is present, maintaining water temperature between 77 and 86°F (25 and 30°C) 1.
To ensure the continued effectiveness of emergency eyewash and safety shower equipment, regular maintenance, inspection, and testing procedures are essential for compliance with OSHA guidelines and ANSI best practices. Weekly activation and flushing of the units are necessary to prevent the buildup of sediment and the growth of microbial contaminants in the water supply 1. For plumbed units, this weekly flushing should last for at least 1 to 2 minutes, and ideally up to 5 minutes, to ensure that any stagnant water is completely cleared from the system 1. When testing eyewash equipment, it is important to check for an even and consistent flow of water between both nozzles 1. In addition to weekly checks, annual inspections should be conducted to verify compliance with ANSI standards, including assessments of water temperature, flow rate, location, and overall operation of the equipment 1. For self-contained eyewash units, maintenance should be performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, which typically include periodic flushing and the use of appropriate flushing solutions 18. Maintaining a clear and unobstructed path to the emergency eyewash station, ensuring adequate lighting in the area, and regularly checking and replacing any worn or damaged signage are also crucial aspects of proper maintenance 9. These routine procedures help to guarantee that the emergency equipment will function correctly when needed and will provide clean, contaminant-free water for effective decontamination 15. Improperly maintained eyewash stations can harbor harmful organisms like Acanthamoeba and Pseudomonas, leading to potential infections 18.
OSHA guidelines on eyewash stations and safety showers are applied across various workplace scenarios, with some specific considerations for certain industries and hazards. In the construction industry, OSHA explicitly recognizes the applicability of 29 CFR 1910.151(c) 10, and OSHA Standard 1926.50(g) for construction mirrors the same requirements 12. Notably, for industrial battery rooms within the construction industry, facilities must be provided within 25 feet of battery handling areas 12. When dealing with acids and caustics, which are prime examples of injurious corrosive materials, the provision of eyewash stations and safety showers is clearly mandated 1. The pulp and paper industry, for instance, has a specific requirement to provide facilities for counteracting lime or acid burns 1. Generally, chemicals with a pH of less than 2.0 or greater than 11.5 are considered corrosive and necessitate emergency washing facilities 5. For formaldehyde exposure, OSHA has a specific standard (1910.1048) that requires eyewash facilities if there is any possibility of an employee's eyes being splashed with solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde, and quick-drench showers for solutions of 1 percent or greater 19. A hospital, for example, installed emergency eyewashes in labs and operating rooms where formalin (containing formaldehyde) was dispensed 19. Even in cold environments, OSHA does not permit the substitution of personal protective equipment (PPE) for eyewash/safety showers 1. While the use of temporary portable units might present challenges in freezing conditions, the fundamental requirement for flushing facilities remains, and a "facility" can include various methods such as portable units or hoses with an appropriate water supply at the correct temperature 20. It is important to distinguish between irritants and corrosives under OSHA's 1910.151(c) standard, which specifically targets injurious corrosive materials 4. While severe irritants that are not corrosive might not trigger the requirement under this particular standard, ANSI standards recommend providing emergency washing facilities for a broader range of hazardous materials, including irritants 4. Finally, even when handling sealed containers of corrosive materials, if there is a potential for exposure during tasks like sampling or withdrawal, eyewash and/or shower facilities are required 4. In the ammonia refrigeration industry, some end users have been fined for not having eyewash and safety showers near valve stations, even if those stations are not frequently serviced in a way that would involve potential exposure 20.
Non-compliance with OSHA regulations regarding eyewash stations and safety showers can result in significant fines and other penalties 1. To ensure compliance and, more importantly, to protect employee safety, employers should adopt a proactive approach. This begins with conducting thorough hazard assessments to identify all areas where employees may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials 4. Based on this assessment, employers must provide readily accessible eyewash and safety shower facilities that meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151(c) and should strongly consider the detailed guidance offered in ANSI Z358.1 1. Establishing and diligently following regular maintenance, inspection, and testing procedures for all emergency eyewash and shower equipment is crucial to ensure their functionality in an emergency 1. Furthermore, employers have a responsibility to train employees on the location and proper use of these emergency stations, ensuring they know how to react effectively in case of chemical exposure 9. Maintaining clear signage and ensuring unobstructed access to all emergency equipment are also essential components of a comprehensive safety program 1. Finally, employers should carefully consider the specific hazards present in their workplace and any unique environmental conditions when selecting and installing emergency eyewash and safety shower equipment to ensure the chosen solutions are appropriate and effective 4. By adhering to these guidelines and best practices, employers can create a safer working environment and mitigate the potential for serious injuries resulting from chemical exposure 6.
In conclusion, OSHA guidelines on eyewash stations and safety showers, primarily outlined in 29 CFR 1910.151(c) and often interpreted with reference to ANSI Z358.1, are critical for protecting employees from the hazards of injurious corrosive materials 1. Employers must conduct thorough hazard assessments, provide readily accessible and properly functioning emergency washing facilities, and ensure ongoing maintenance and employee training 6. Compliance with these regulations is not only a legal obligation, potentially avoiding significant financial penalties 1, but also a fundamental aspect of responsible workplace safety management. By understanding and implementing these guidelines, employers can significantly reduce the risk of severe injuries and create a safer and healthier work environment for their employees 6.
1. What are the OSHA Safety Shower Requirements?, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.hughes-safety.com/us/hub/understanding-osha-safety-shower-requirements/
2. How to Comply with OSHA Eye Wash Station Requirements and Emergency Safety Showers | Justrite, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.justrite.com/news/meet-osha-emergency-shower-requirements/
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4. Requirements for eyewash and shower facilities. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2009-06-01
5. Eye Wash Station and Emergency Showers - Design Criteria | Home Care | Environment of Care EC | The Joint Commission, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/standard-faqs/home-care/environment-of-care-ec/000001233/
6. When Should Safety Showers & Emergency Eyewashes Be Used? - The ANSI Blog, accessed March 18, 2025, https://blog.ansi.org/when-to-use-safety-showers-and-emergency-eyewashes/
7. Request to provide list of corrosive materials and concentrations requiring use of emergency eyewashes and showers. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2008-04-14-0
8. Clarification regarding the use of eyewash stations. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1996-08-22
9. How to Comply with OSHA and ANSI Requirements for Emergency Safety Showers, accessed March 18, 2025, https://redasafe.com/sa_en/resources/post/how-to-comply-with-osha-and-ansi-requirements-and-emergency-safety-showers
10. Eyewash and shower equipment in construction. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1992-07-20-5
11. ANSI Z358.1 guidance for complying with 1910.151(c) citation policy ..., accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2002-04-18-1
12. Understanding OSHA Safety Shower Requirements - Blog - Solus Group, accessed March 18, 2025, https://solusgrp.com/blog/post/understanding-osha-safety-shower-requirements.html
13. How to Meet OSHA Eyewash Requirements in Your Facility - Ferguson, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.ferguson.com/content/ideas-and-learning-center/business-insider/how-to-meet-osha-eyewash-requirements/
14. OSHA and ANSI Requirements for Eyewash and Safety Showers - Lab Manager, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.labmanager.com/osha-and-ansi-requirements-for-eyewash-and-safety-showers-3003
15. Laboratory Instructional Space Safety Shower Station Safety Protocols | NSTA, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.nsta.org/blog/laboratory-instructional-space-safety-shower-station-safety-protocols
16. What are the OSHA Eyewash Station Requirements?, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.eyewashdirect.com/pages/what-are-the-osha-eyewash-station-requirements
17. Personal Safety | U.S. Chemical Storage, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.uschemicalstorage.com/emergency-safety-showers/
18. OSHA INFOSHEET, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3818.pdf
19. Emergency eyewash protection when exposed to 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde | Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-11
20. Eyewash Safety Shower - IIAR, accessed March 18, 2025, https://www.iiar.org/IIAR/IIAR/IIAR_News/Standards/Eyewash_Safety_Shower.aspx
By Shirish Sathe
In this concluding part of our Safety Eyewear blog series, I will explain how awareness of safety standards can enhance compliance and lead to better protection in the workplace
In complex industrial environments, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to PPE isn’t effective. Recognizing this, safety standards have long acknowledged the need for specific solutions. Almost all standards for Safety Eyewear require the manufacturers to put the product through a series of tests that assess the ability of the product to address the typical workplace hazards. These hazards can generally be categorized into optical hazards, impact from flying objects, liquid splash, and fine particles. Safety standards outline specific test protocols to evaluate a product’s performance against each of these risks. This means the products which are certified have gone through the defined tests and should typically help the users to address all challenges at their workplace and then ‘one product fits all’ approach should have worked but in reality, the standards recognizes that all users may not face all the hazards simultaneously and overprotection can only increase product costs and implementation challenges.
With that thought in mind, the standards have defined some mandatory compliance parameters ensuring general or base level protection and have separately recognized optional/additional compliances to confirm suitability of the eyewear for specific and uncommon hazards. However, the standards go one step further by mandating the manufacturers to include permanent markings on the product (both on lens and on the frame) which allow the user to differentiate between products offering bare minimum compliance from those offering special hazard specific compliance.
The knowledge of the product markings will empower the users or safety professionals to choose the right product for right application there by increasing the compliance.
Lets understand the product marking requirements of ISO and European standards
Optical Clarity
If we have to wear a product in front of our eyes our basic expectation would be that the product should allow us to see clearly. Thus, ‘Optical Clarity’ is the first mandatory test defined by all standards for safety eyewear requiring the lens to allow luminous transmittance of not less than 74.4% and have a Spherical and Cylindrical powers not more than ±0.06 dioptres. The standards refer to this as ‘Optical Class 1’ which in layman terms is a zero-power lens. As per the safety standards lens complying to this are required to have marking ‘1’.
The ISO 16321 standard has pushed the transmittance criterion to 80% and identifies +/- 0.06 dioptre(Category 1) as the optional requirement specific to certain applications such as Welding. For general application the ISO 16321 standard allows optical clarity of =/- 0.12 dioptres which is denoted as Category 2. It is not mandatory to mark a Category 2 but it is required to have category 1 marked on the lens.
Impact Test/Mechanical Strength
Ability of the safety eyewear to prevent any flying object from getting into our eyes and causing injury would be our next conern and its also a mandatory requirement identified by the safety standards
Most safety standards mandate testing safety ‘spectacles’ against mechanical impact from flying objects at 45m/s which is over 160 km/hr!! One might wonder what’s moving at such breakneck speed at a work area?! The commonly used metal finishing/polishing tools operate at minimum 25 to 30 m/s speed and some grinding wheels need to be operated with 80m/s speed. Any projectile chipping off from the wheel will fly at the same velocity as the grinding or buffing wheel and these are the potential hazards from which the safety eyewear is designed to offer protection to the wearer.
Optical Filters
We have seen that the first safety eyewear was designed for protection against glare and subsequently the need for protection from UV and IR light was also recognized. The information and testing of these array of optical filters is the next mandatory criterion.
Other mandatory requirements
It is mandatory under both EN and ISO standards to have the manufacturer's identity mark on the lens and the frame. In addition, the number of standards i.e.,166 for EN and 16321 for ISO should also be marked on the frame.
Now lets understand additional or optional requirements. Ironically the most sought after features of scratch resistance and anti-fog performance are considered additional requirements. The standards also recognize other optional requirements like operating performance under extreme temperatures and protection against chemical splash, gas, molten metals or fine dust.
The product needs to have suitable markings if the manufacture is claiming to offer any of these additional features.
Scratch Resistance
An eyewear claiming to offer scratch resistance (surface damage by fine particles) needs to have marking K on the lens under both the standards.
We have seen earlier that because of its mechanical strength Polycarbonate is material of choice for most safety eyewear. However, polycarbonate is soft material that’s easily prone to scratches. For this reason, all polycarbonate lenses are provided with a coating which forms a physical barrier over the polycarbonate surface. The strength and thickness of this coating will determine the degree of the scratch resistance and thus will influence if an eyewear gets worn or not.
An eyewear with K marking ensures a fair degree of scratch resistance and can ensure durability of the product.
Resistance to Fogging
Fogging is second most challenging issues that makes the user remove their eyewear and thus increase their exposure to risk. Many users are required to wear a dust mask along with their safety eyewear and the warm exhalation fog up the lenses. Individuals working in cooler rooms with tightly worn goggles can also experience fogging of lenses.
An anti-fog compliance calls for the lenses to remain fog free for a minimum 8 seconds when exposed to an atmosphere above 50 °C.
Both EN and ISO standard use letter N to denote an acceptable resistance to fogging.
Other Optional Compliances
Protection against liquid splash, large dust particles, gas and molten metal is denoted with frame marking 3, 4, 5 and 9 respectively under both the standards.
Protection against these hazards might call for some specific product features which are application specific e.g products offering protection from gas or very fine particles will have reduced ventilation compared to products offering protection against large particles
Now let’s circle back to where we originally started - the challenge of defining a bare minimum for a given work environment with defined hazards without compromising the compliance. With the knowledge of product markings the decision makers can easily select an appropriate safety eyewear which will protect the wearer from the hazards at the workplace and will also ensure that it gets worn! e.g Individuals working at a chemical laboratory are required to wear a goggle and typically they are troubled with fogged lenses and hence skip wearing the goggle making them susceptible to risk. For such application the decision parameter should not just be limited to the chemical splash protection (frame marking 3) but the anti-fog performance of the lenses (i.e lenses with marking K) should also be considered while selecting the goggle.
With this information about the expected performance parameters, it is easy to understand why a competitively priced general purpose eyewear without N marking doesn’t get worn. The product that compromises on sufficient scratch resistance will develop scratches quickly and will not have a long life in use thus reducing compliance and increasing risks!
The knowledge of safety standards provides sufficient clarity to the decision makers to map a product to an application thereby eliminating the bare minimum compromise and ensure maximum protection to the wearers.
The Indian standard for Safety Eyewear is now harmonized to ISO 16321. The EN standard will also be migrated to this ISO standard by Nov 2025. As the ISO standard gain worldwise adoption, it will ensure universal minimum standard for safety, offering greater protection and consistency across international markets.
By Shirish Sathe
Ever wondered why tepid water—a comfortably lukewarm temperature that’s neither too hot nor too cold—matters so much in industrial settings? It may seem like just a mundane temperature, but in the industrial world, it’s a bit of a superhero. Let’s explore why tepid water is crucial, how it’s used, and the challenges it faces.
Tepid water is usually around 70-85°F (21-29°C), or as per ANSI standards, 60-100°F (16-38°C). It’s pleasantly warm but not scalding. Imagine it as the ideal bath temperature where you don’t want to boil yourself but also don’t want to freeze. It’s this moderate temperature that makes tepid water so useful in various industrial applications.
Creating tepid water in industrial settings isn’t as simple as just turning on the tap. Several methods are employed to achieve that perfect lukewarm temperature:
Mixing Hot and Cold Water: Just like at home, where you mix hot and cold water for a shower, industrial systems use sophisticated valves and mixers to blend streams of hot and cold water. This high-tech version of your kitchen faucet ensures the water reaches the desired temperature.
Temperature-Controlled Tanks: For large volumes of tepid water, such as in cooling systems or decontamination processes, big storage tanks are used. These tanks have built-in heaters or coolers to maintain the water at the right temperature—think of it as a giant thermos for industrial use.
Heat Exchangers: These devices transfer heat from one substance to another. They can either cool down hot water or warm up cold water to reach the tepid temperature needed. It’s like using a heat pad for warming up your chilly feet, but on an industrial scale.
Tepid water might not sound thrilling, but it plays a vital role in various industrial processes:
Emergency Showers and Eye Wash Stations: In labs or factories, if chemicals spill, tepid water is used in emergency showers and eye wash stations. Its moderate temperature helps wash away hazardous substances gently, reducing the risk of burns or discomfort.
Cooling Systems: In factories or power plants, machinery can get extremely hot. Tepid water helps cool down equipment to prevent overheating. It’s like giving your equipment a cool-down session to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Testing and Calibration: Tepid water is used in testing industrial equipment to simulate normal operating conditions. This ensures that machinery and systems are working correctly before they are put into full-scale operation.
Fire Protection Systems: In colder climates, tepid water prevents the freezing of pipes in fire protection systems. By maintaining a tepid temperature, the risk of ice-blocked pipes is minimized, ensuring that the fire protection systems are ready when needed.
Safety First: Tepid water is safer to use than hot or cold water. It helps in emergency decontamination processes without causing burns or additional discomfort. Its gentle nature makes it ideal for sensitive situations.
Smooth Operations: Using tepid water in cooling systems and other processes helps maintain smooth operation. It prevents machinery from overheating and ensures everything runs efficiently, keeping your industrial processes in a comfortable zone.
Meeting Standards: Many safety and industry standards require tepid water for specific applications. By adhering to these standards, companies ensure compliance and avoid potential fines, promoting safety and operational efficiency.
Optimal Reaction Conditions: Tepid water is used to control chemical reactions, ensuring they occur at the right speed. It helps avoid the dangers of accelerated reactions caused by higher temperatures, providing a steady pace and preventing unwanted byproducts.
Reducing Risk of Hypothermia: Tepid water helps prevent hypothermia by minimizing sudden body temperature changes. Its stable warmth reduces heat loss compared to hot or cold water, promoting worker comfort and reducing the risk of body temperature drops.
Keeping It Just Right: Maintaining the perfect tepid temperature can be challenging. Regular checks and maintenance are needed to ensure the water stays within the desired range, much like keeping your coffee at the perfect drinking temperature.
Energy Costs: Producing and maintaining tepid water can be energy-intensive. Balancing the need for tepid water with energy efficiency is crucial to keeping costs down and reducing environmental impact.
Temperature Fluctuations: External factors like weather changes can affect water temperature. Robust systems and careful monitoring are required to ensure consistent temperature despite these fluctuations.
Our Team UNICARE, enhances industrial safety by providing tepid water solutions for emergency showers and eye wash stations. Tepid water's gentle warmth effectively cleanses hazardous substances, reducing the risk of burns and discomfort. This ensures safe, compliant, and efficient handling of chemical spills and other emergencies, promoting overall workplace safety.
Tepid water might seem like a minor player in the grand scheme of industrial systems, but its role is far from trivial. From emergency decontamination to cooling systems and equipment testing, tepid water is essential for ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance. By understanding how tepid water is produced and utilized, we can appreciate its significance and the role it plays in keeping industrial processes running smoothly.
So, the next time you enjoy a tepid bath or fill a sink with lukewarm water, remember that this simple temperature plays a crucial role in the industrial world, keeping machinery and safety systems functioning at their best.
By Shirish Sathe
The industrial environments can be extreme and challenging making the process control measures insufficient to minimise the risk. Therefore, using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a must for anyone who is working in such areas. In the previous part of this blog series, we have examined the real world challenges that the safety professionals have to overcome to improve the compliance and reduce the risks without compromising the productivity. These goals often appear to be contradictory and can be very challenging to implement for the decision makers.
Luckily, the key to get around this issue is easily available in the safety standards for eye protection. Before we jump to the solution to the problem at hand let’s look at the evolution of safety eyewear.
The earliest references of using an eye protection for industrial applications dates back to 1880 when an African-American inventor, Powell Johnson, secured a patent for ‘Eye Protector’1 that he designed to minimise glare by placing two circular screens in front of each other. These screens were made of, believe it or not a semi-opaque fabric! While it was an interesting invention to reduce the glare while working in front of furnaces it obviously lacked the impact strength needed to prevent eye injuries from flying particles.
The importance of protecting eyes from non-glare hazards, like mechanical projectiles, was recognised in early 1900s. The ‘Julius King Optical Company’ in the United States developed the first safety goggle called SHANIGLAS in collaboration with ‘American Optical’ in 1909. Following that in 1910 Garrett Morgan gained a patent to include safety glass in his gas mask and the protective eyewear as we know today came into being. His invention became popular during the First World War and later evolved to be used as car windshields.
These first generation safety eyewear designs were bulky and uncomfortable for most part of twentieth century as they were made from metals, leather and toughed mineral glass and hard resins. These materials were brittle and presented a secondary hazard to the eyes and face when used for eye protection. In early 1970s Gentex Corporation (manufacturer of tactical helmets) revolutionised the safety eyewear by manufacturing an optical lens made out of polycarbonate for the first time. Polycarbonate being a strong material offered far superior impact protection than toughened glass and it remains the material of choice for safety eyewear even to this date.
While the design of safety eyewear was getting upgraded, the ANSI standard for eye protection remained undefined till 1968 and in the initial days covered only the construction industry. Real attention was given after OSHA was established in 1971 and referred to the 1968 version of ANSI standard for eye protector as a rule. The ANSI Standard Z87.1 has undergone a few updates since then and the latest version is from 2020.
The Indian version of first safety eyewear standard IS 59832 was published in 1971 by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the name ‘Specifications for protective filters for welding, cutting and similar applications’. The scope of IS 5983 was expanded in 1980 to cover hazards like small particles flying at high velocity, molten metal, chemical splashes, dust, gases, optical radiations (ultra-violet, infra-red and glare from intense visible light) pose hazards which are likely to impair vision or damage the eye and the standard was renamed as ‘Specification for Eye Protectors’.
The standard at that point had recognised both toughened glass and plastic as lens material but for several years the safety eyewear was made using toughened glass as lens material. Even today some safety goggle tenders from public sector companies specify toughened glass as lens material. What is interesting to know that even in 1980s the standard was quite evolved. It had touched upon aspects of wearer comfort, fitment, ventilation etc and there was a corollary standard for the testing methods (IS 7524:19803). This version of the standard recognised two separate product categories – eyewear with optical protection only and eyewear offering protection from mechanical impact. The standard also identified special purpose products offering protection from - high velocity particles or molten metal and hot solids or chemical splashes or dusts or vapours and gases, and it included a product marking guideline to map a product for application. The IS 5983 was recently withdrawn and a new standard IS 8521 (Part 1) was introduced in 2021. This standard is mirrored and harmonised with ISO 16321. The standard for test methods have been also updated as IS 7524 (part 1 - part 4) and they mirror ISO 18526 (part 1 – part 4).
One might think that the safety standards would primarily focus on product design and testing and they are of little help to users or decision makers. Thankfully that’s not true. Most safety standards include a mandatory product marking guideline that provides the crucial information, to the decision makers and users, to select an appropriate product offering the desired protection from the identified hazard. In the next part of this blog series we will explore the product marking in greater detail and finally understand how this knowledge helps to over product selection dilemma and improved compliance.
References
1 https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a7/bd/b8/b78300a62f59a8/US234039.pdf
2 https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S02/is.5983.1980.pdf
3 https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S02/is.7524.1.1980.pdf
By Shirish Sathe
From helmets to safety shoes, our protective gear (PPE) shields us from hazards at work place. Most organisations have well defined safety policies and they spend considerable amount of time and money proving quality PPEs to employees however the biggest challenge for safety professionals is to get the users wear their PPEs!!
Safety and comfort often do not go hand in hand. On Indian roads, we frequently see individuals driving cars without seat belts or riding motorbikes without helmets, mainly due to the discomfort of the safety measures. This apathy leads to a lack of compliance which is a major safety concern. The concepts of comfort and wearability are even more important at workplaces as they directly impact productivity which is a clear measure of individual’s performance at work. Therefore the employees often avoid anything that hinders their activities. A general tendency of an individual is to adopt a ‘bare minimum’ protection needed to perform the task without affecting productivity and ignore everything else. Line managers, responsible for ensuring compliance with safety norms, often face the dilemma of balancing safety and productivity. They may prioritise meeting production targets while allowing this compromised safety compliance. This results in the ‘bare minimum’ becoming the accepted performance criterion for most PPEs. While this approach may seem cost-effective and efficient in the short term, it poses significant risks in the long term.
However there are several tasks where the bare minimum is not sufficient. Unfortunately, many organisations do not distinguish between general protection and special requirements unless there is a significant impact on productivity. This lack of differentiation increases risk exposure. Procurement policies often focus on controlling costs by meeting ‘the bare minimum’ requirements, satisfying KPIs without considering whether the PPE will be used effectively or its durability. This short-sighted approach overlooks the long-term consequences and defeats the purpose.
A common example of this phenomenon is experienced in case of safety eyewear. Many production sites recognise Safety Eyewear as one of the mandatory PPEs. Any one entering these sites need to wear a safety eyewear along with other PPEs to protect themselves from flying particles and/or liquid splashes and/or harmful lights. It is not difficult to imagine that if we are to work wearing anything on our eyes then it should be something that allows us to see clearly in order to perform our tasks efficiently. That’s very basic isn’t it?!, but quite often this basic need is not fulfilled by the eye protection being used. It’s not uncommon to find individuals entering the work site with their eyewear but they prefer keeping it in their pockets or push it up on their head primarily because they can’t see clearly wearing the safety eyewear. This is a big concern and such individuals are putting themselves at a very high risk of an eye injury and loss of eyesight not because they don’t want to wear the eye protection but their eyewear is simply not offering clear vision.
Decision makers need to carefully examine the causes leading to a situation where a brand new eyewear, which has typically met the bare minimum criterion during procurement scrutiny, quickly moves away from being in front of our eyes to our pockets. This issue is not only about increased risk for the wearer but also about hidden costs for the organisation. Frequent procurement of PPE due to inadequate initial quality results in higher overall expenditure and increased recycling costs. These hidden costs far outweigh the savings from procuring PPE that just meets the ‘bare minimum’ compliance.
In conclusion, while providing quality PPE is essential, ensuring its consistent use is even more critical. Organizations must go beyond the bare minimum and consider comfort and usability to enhance compliance. In the next part of this blog we will understand the how improved awareness of the safety standards can significantly improve the compliance and negate the wearability challenge to a large extent.
By Team Unicare
A+A is the world's leading trade fair and congress for safety and health at work. It will take place from October 24-27, 2023, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Over 2,000 exhibitors from over 60 countries will present their latest products and services for personal protection, occupational safety, and health at work.
The A+A congress is also a major event, with over 1,000 speakers and attendees from all over the world. The congress program covers a wide range of topics related to safety and health at work, including:
If you are involved in safety and health at work, then A+A is the must-attend event. You will have the opportunity to see the latest products and services from leading suppliers, learn from experts in the field, and network with other professionals.
Unicare Safety, a leading manufacturer of eye/face wash, safety showers, and other safety equipment, will be participating in the A+A International Trade Fair and Congress for Safety and Health at Work, which will take place from October 24-27, 2023, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
At the A+A trade fair, Unicare Safety will showcase its latest products and solutions for eye/face wash, safety showers, and other safety equipment. This includes:
Unicare Safety is committed to providing its customers with the best possible eye/face wash, safety showers, and other safety equipment. By participating in the A+A trade fair, Unicare Safety is able to showcase its latest products and solutions to a global audience and share its knowledge of eye/face wash and Safety Shower with others.
Here are some of the benefits of visiting the Unicare Safety booth at the A+A trade fair:
If you are involved in safety and health at work, then you should definitely visit the Unicare Safety booth at the A+A trade fair. It is a great opportunity to see the latest eye/face wash, safety shower, and other safety equipment, learn from safety experts, and get advice on your specific eye/face wash and safety shower needs.
Here are some of the things you can expect to see at A+A 2023:
If you are interested in attending A+A 2023, you can register online at the A+A website.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your A+A experience:
Have fun: A+A is a great opportunity to learn and network, but it is also a lot of fun. Enjoy the event and take advantage of all that it has to offer.
By Team Unicare
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in all aspects of our lives, including the safety equipment industry. Manufacturers of safety equipment are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact and make their products more sustainable.
One way that manufacturers are making safety equipment more sustainable is by using recycled materials. For example, some companies are using recycled plastic to make hard hats and safety glasses. Others are using recycled rubber to make gloves and boots.
Another way that manufacturers are making safety equipment more sustainable is by using renewable energy to power their factories. Some companies are also investing in energy-efficient manufacturing processes.
In addition to reducing their environmental impact, manufacturers of safety equipment are also looking for ways to make their products more durable and longer-lasting. This will help to reduce the amount of waste that is generated by the safety equipment industry.
Here are some specific examples of how safety equipment manufacturers are working to meet global green goals:
Honeywell: Honeywell is a leading manufacturer of safety equipment, including respirators, hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves. Honeywell is committed to sustainability and has set a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. Honeywell is also working to increase the use of recycled materials in its products.
3M: 3M is another leading manufacturer of safety equipment. 3M is committed to sustainability and has set a goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 3M is also working to reduce the amount of waste that it generates and to increase the use of recycled materials in its products.
MSA Safety: MSA Safety is a manufacturer of safety equipment, including respirators, hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves. MSA Safety is committed to sustainability and has set a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2025. MSA Safety is also working to increase the use of recycled materials in its products.
Unicare Safety: Unicare Safety is committed to manufacturing sustainable safety equipment. The company uses recycled materials in its products whenever possible, and it invests in renewable energy to power its factories. Unicare Safety also works to make its products durable and long-lasting.
These are just a few examples of how safety equipment manufacturers are working to meet global green goals. By reducing their environmental impact and making their products more sustainable, safety equipment manufacturers are helping to protect the planet for future generations.
What does the future hold for safety equipment?
The future of safety equipment is bright. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative and sustainable safety products. For example, we may see the development of safety equipment that is powered by renewable energy or that is made from recycled materials. We may also see the development of safety equipment that is more intelligent and customizable.
The safety equipment industry is committed to sustainability and to protecting the environment. By working together, manufacturers, suppliers, and customers can help to create a more sustainable future for the safety equipment industry.
By Team Unicare
Safety equipment is essential for preventing injuries and saving lives in the workplace and in many other areas of our lives. However, it is important to use and maintain safety equipment properly in order to get the most out of it.
Here are some tips on how to use and maintain safety equipment properly, with examples of Eye Wash & Safety Showers, Eye Protection, Marine Safety, Height Safety & Fall Protection, and Search & Rescue:
"Safety is not a gift, it's a choice. Choose to be safe."
"Safety is not just a word, it's a way of life."
"Safety is no accident."
"Safety is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
"Safety is a full-time job, not a part-time gig."
Maintenance and periodic service are essential for keeping equipment and assets in good condition and extending their lifespan. Regular maintenance and service can help to identify and address potential problems early on, preventing costly repairs and downtime.
There are two main types of maintenance: preventive and corrective. Preventive maintenance is performed on a regular schedule to prevent problems from occurring. Corrective maintenance is performed to repair or replace equipment that has already broken down.
Periodic service is a type of preventive maintenance that is performed at regular intervals, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually. The specific tasks involved in periodic service will vary depending on the type of equipment or asset being serviced.
Here are some of the benefits of regular maintenance and periodic service:
In addition to the above benefits, regular maintenance and periodic service can also help to:
Overall, regular maintenance and periodic service are essential for keeping equipment and assets in good condition and extending their lifespan. Regular maintenance and service can also lead to a number of other benefits, such as improved performance, reduced downtime, improved safety, reduced compliance costs, and improved customer satisfaction.
Remember, safety is always first.
By Team Unicare
Unicare Safety, a leading provider of safety equipment and solutions, will be showcasing its latest products and services at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2023, taking place from October 2 - 5 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
ADIPEC is the world's largest and most influential oil and gas event, attracting over 150,000 visitors and over 2,200 exhibitors from over 150 countries. It is the perfect platform for Unicare Safety to showcase its latest innovations and connect with potential customers from all over the world.
Unicare Safety will be exhibiting a wide range of safety equipment and solutions at ADIPEC 2023, including:
Unicare Safety is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality safety equipment and solutions. The company's products and services are used by a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
About Unicare Safety
Unicare Safety is a leading provider of safety equipment and solutions in the Middle East. The company was founded in 1999 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most trusted safety suppliers in the region. Unicare Safety is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality products and services, and the company's products are used by a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Unicare Safety is a certified ISO 9001:2015 company and is also a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The company's headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and it has offices in Dubai, UAE, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Why Attend ADIPEC 2023?
ADIPEC is the world's largest and most influential oil and gas event, attracting over 150,000 visitors and over 2,200 exhibitors from over 150 countries. It is the perfect platform for businesses in the oil and gas industry to network, learn about the latest trends and technologies, and make new deals.
Some of the benefits of attending ADIPEC 2023 include:
If you are involved in the oil and gas industry, ADIPEC 2023 is an event you cannot miss.
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