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>Does anyone know the OSHA section that regulates safety showers for bulk >acids and bases? Or the maximum allowable distances to safety >showers for bulk >corrosives? > >Thanks, > >Michael Fox, Ph.D., Founder >Chemical Accident Reconstruction Services, Inc. >9121 E. Tanque Verde Road #105 >Tucson, Arizona 85749 > >Phone: 800-MIKE-FOX (645-3369) >Fax: 520-749-0861 >email: mikefox**At_Symbol_Here**mikefox.com Guardian Equipment has an excellent multi-page discussion on this general topic that you can view as HTML or download as PDF at http://www.gesafety.com/ANSI/index.htm Disclosure/Disclaimer: My company is an authorized Guardian Equipment distributor. Excerpts from http://www.gesafety.com/ANSI/ansi_main2.htm OSHA has adopted several regulations that refer to the use of emergency eye wash and shower equipment. The primary regulation is contained in 29 CFR 1910.151, which requires that... "...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.".... The OSHA regulation regarding emergency equipment is quite vague, in that it does not define what constitutes "suitable facilities" for drenching the eyes or body. In order to provide additional guidance to employers, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has promulgated a voluntary standard covering emergency eye wash and shower equipment. This standard-ANSI Z358.1-is intended to serve as a guideline for the proper design, performance, installation, use and maintenance of emergency equipment.... In general, the ANSI standard provides that emergency equipment be installed within 10 seconds walking time from the location of a hazard. The equipment must be installed on the same level as the hazard (i.e. accessing the equipment should not require going up or down stairs or ramps). The path of travel from the hazard to the equipment should be free of obstructions and as straight as possible. However, there are certain circumstances where these guidelines may not be adequate. For example, where workers are handling particularly strong acids, caustics or other materials where the consequences of a spill would be very serious, emergency equipment should be installed immediately adjacent to the hazard. Based on personal experience, I can say unequivocally that "immediately adjacent" is an important point. You can read my old Usenet post about an accident involving sulfuric acid here: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.chem/browse_thread/thread/1c1dc57528c215f6/d61a8f49a20ba99e?hl=en&lnk=st&q=toreki+explosion+sulfuric#d61a8f49a20ba99e Concentrated sulfuric acid is extremely slippery. It's not called "oil of virtriol" without a a reason. Both the Guardian document and the Usenet post I reference above also make clear the importance of an alarm on such equipment. A safety station alarm could save the life of a severely injured worker in the event of an accident involving one or more people. Regards, Dr. Robert Toreki -- ===================================================== Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names you know and trust. Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com or toll-free: (866) 326-5412 Fax: (856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012
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