Hazardous Chemicals and the Importance of Eye Flushing Solutions
- By Christine L. Mello
- May 04, 2007
Chemicals cause a full 20 percent of all eye injuries sustained on the job.
CAPABLE of processing more than 36,000 bits of information an hour and utilizing more than 65 percent of the pathways to the brain, the human eye contributes nearly 85 percent of an individual’s total knowledge. Yet because the eye is often minimally protected, it is particularly vulnerable to injury--especially in the workplace.
In fact, more than 2,000 workplace eye injuries occur every day, with nearly 100,000 of these injuries resulting in temporary or permanent vision loss per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manufacturing and production jobs had higher eye injury rates than any other sector, with installation, maintenance and repair, and construction jobs having the next-highest eye injury rates. The cost of these injuries is staggering. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the financial cost of occupational eye injuries is more than $300 million per year and includes lost production time, medical expenses, and worker's compensation. With this in mind, it is important to understand the causes of these injuries, some measures to prevent them, and how to respond quickly when these injuries occur.
What Causes Workplace Eye Injuries?
While the causes of workplace eye injuries vary by industry, the overwhelming majority of incidents involve flying particles or falling objects striking the eye at a high rate of speed. According to BLS, a full 20 percent of all eye injuries sustained on the job are caused by chemicals, which require specialized response measures. Tens of thousands of chemicals are used in the United States every year, with many of these chemicals considered to be hazardous. Exposure to these chemicals can occur during manufacture, storage, transport, use, or disposal, and they pose a serious threat to the health and safety of people who work with or around them.
* Prevention and education are key. The first defense against workplace eye injury is prevention, and it is every employer's responsibility to assess eye safety hazards in the workplace and take measures to ensure employee safety. Companies are responsible for understanding the OSHA and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulations and recommendations and for ensuring that managers and employees have the know-how and resources to act in accordance with industry safety standards. Proper eye and face protection, the proper use of equipment guards, safety-conscious manufacturing processes, and education and training initiatives can be effective in reducing the number of injuries incurred.
* If safety precautions fail, response is critical. Employers should have a response plan in place to provide assistance to the injured worker as quickly as possible to minimize the effects of the eye injury. To aid employers, the government has developed a number of recommendations and regulations related to on-the-job eye safety, especially in cases where hazardous chemicals are involved.
The OSHA Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, requires employers to identify and evaluate all chemicals used in the workplace and to develop a complete hazard communication program. This program provides employees with information about hazardous chemicals in their workplace and training on identification, as well as detection, of hazardous chemicals. Employers also must provide safety equipment and the first aid procedures required for safe use of chemicals used in the workplace and for emergency response if an employee is exposed to a hazardous chemical. This means emergency eyewash.
OSHA and ANSI on Eyewash
Current OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c) states, "Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use." For specific recommendations, OSHA refers employers to ANSI standard Z358.1.
According to this ANSI standard, emergency eyewash stations should;
1. Be available in accessible locations within a 10-second walk of the hazard and must be located on the same level as the hazard. ANSI calculates the average person covers a distance of approximately 55 feet in 10 seconds when walking at a normal pace.
2. Deliver a 15-minute continuous flow of flushing fluid, which the ANSI standard defines as any potable (drinking) water, preserved water, preserved buffered saline solution, or other medically acceptable solutions. Eyewash stations should produce a stream of flushing fluid not less than 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes with a consistent fluid pressure.
3. Be located in areas where caustic or hazardous substances are present. When in doubt, always check relevant MSDSs under the First Aid Section to determine whether the chemical or substance in your facility requires 15-minute eye flushing.
4. Have an on-off valve, pull strap, or door that is capable of activation in one second or less and activates with one single motion.
5. Be in a location that is free of obstructions that inhibit immediate use. Do not place pallets, barrels, or any other articles in front of or blocking the path to the eyewash station.
6. Be identified with a sign so that everyone working in the area can see the eyewash station and knows what it is and how to use it in an emergency.
This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.