Thursday 25 February 2016

Attributes Of Effective Self Contained Eyewash Stations

By Jessica Green


Quick and efficient response to emergencies is vital in the prevention of calamities. A self contained eyewash station is a device installed to wash off harmful chemicals or particles from the eyes in case these harmful substances enter the eye. This is done to prevent damage to the eyes and avert severe side effects such as blindness and other forms of incapacitation. This is also important in reducing the effect of the exposure to the eyes.

At any time, the station should be accessible especially during accidents. All employees or anyone around the vicinity must be able to access it with little trouble. They also need to be concentrated in places where there is a high possibility of calamities during accidents. This will ensure as much people as possible can use it. Centrality of the location is vital in ensuring easy accessibility during catastrophes.

The location of the station must also be free of anything that might obstruct its immediate use such as fences. A clearly visible sign post should also be made at the locale so that anyone can easily identify it during an emergency. The signage needs to be in bold letters and be made in a language that is simple and easy to understand.

The installation and maintenance of the stations must also fall within the limits of a budget. Maintenance needs to be done on a weekly basis to ensure smooth operation and drain any clogging that could accrue in the system. A cost effective system is not only important in ensuring effectiveness but also improves access to quality emergency services when an accident occurs.

The dynamics of operating the system must be easy and comprehendible. A single motion must be all that the system needs to be activated and this must be fast. The valve should be located at a place that can be easily accessed by anyone and activated. Simple operation of the system guarantees prevention of adverse effects during emergencies.

Portability is also an important quality in an eyewash station. This means that it must be light and easy to transport to areas that might not be accessible such as hilly terrains. Heavy stations are not only cumbersome to operate and transport but also require huge maintenance costs. The more portable it is, the easier it is to transport it to area where for instance workers cannot move by themselves during emergencies.

A proper station should have cleaning agents that do not require mixing and measuring before they can be used. The cleaning agents must be mixed in anticipation of an emergency and this should be done in a clean environment to prevent infection since eyes are very prone to any kind of infection. The solution to be used ought to be sterile and devoid of bacteria.

Cleaning agents should also flow consistently so that it can remove any harmful particles from the eyes. There should be a consistent flow of the cleaning agent for fifteen to twenty minutes to wash off all chemicals from the eyes and avert further damage.




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