Hazardous Chemicals and the Importance of Eye Flushing Solutions
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 that the financial cost of occupational eye
injuries is more than $300 million per year and includes lost production time, medical
expenses and workers’ compensation. With this in mind, it is important to understand the
causes of these injuries, some measure 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 the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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 use in the U.S. 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 is 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 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (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 that provides employees with information about
hazardous chemicals in their workplace, and training on identification as well as
detection of hazardous chemicals. Employers must also provide safety equipment,
emergency and first aid procedures required for safe use of chemicals used in the work
place and for emergency response if an employee is exposed to a hazardous chemical.
This means Emergency Eyewash.
OSHA and ANSI on Eyewash
Current OSHA guideline 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 ANSI Standard Z358.1, 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
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 station
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 MSDS under the First Aid Section to
determine if 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, knows what it is and how to use it in an emergency.
Current Eye Wash Solutions: Traditional Tap Water
Simply stated, tap water can introduce additional contaminants into the injured eye.
Though tap water is suitable for drinking, it does contain various irritants and
contaminants. In fact, a December 2005 survey by the Environmental Working Group
(EWG), a nonprofit environmental research and advocacy group based in Washington,
DC, found 141 unregulated chemicals and an additional 119 for which the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has set health-based limits. Most common among the
chemicals found were disinfection by-products, nitrates, chloroform, barium, arsenic and
copper. Flushing these harmful elements into an already damaged eye can cause
serious secondary injury and possible vision loss.
As one of the most sensitive areas of the eye, the cornea, if injured, has a reduced
ability to resist an infection from water contaminated with microorganisms, such as
Acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas Aeurginosa and Pseudomonas Cepacia, Enteric Bacili,
Entamoeba, and E. coli. Emergency eyewash stations can be a source of potential
infection unless the stations are regularly maintained and the flushing fluid quality is
carefully monitored. Flushing fluid can be contaminated by the use of potable (tap) water
containing microorganisms and from bacteria on the walls of water pipes. The lack of
turbulent flow, nutrients present in the water, and favorable ambient temperatures
(microbes thrive in a broad temperature range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees) all
contribute to the growth of infection-causing microorganisms.
Plumbed Eyewash Devices have been in use for more than 100 years. Their greatest
attribute is the ability to deliver plentiful amounts of flushing liquid. But plumbed fixtures
have a significant number of drawbacks — mostly due to the fact that plumbed fixtures
use tap water as a rinsing agent. Not only does tap water not match the pH of the eye,
but, as previously discussed it could also contain contaminants and microorganisms —
both of which could further irritate and injure the eye, potentially leading to serious
complications.
Plumbed eyewash stations are also expensive to install and impractical to move
when plant layouts are modified or production facilities expand. To adhere to the 10second rule, plumbed eyewash stations may need to be added or relocated, which
represents a significant cost and time factor.
Plumbed units warrant frequent maintenance according to the ANSI standard.
Plumbed eyewash units should be activated weekly to flush out sediment build-up and
dangerous microbial contaminants due to sitting water. In large plants, maintenance of
multiple eyewash units can represent a substantial labor and cost commitment.
Self-contained Portable, Tank-Style Eyewash Stations are designed for portability
and easy access. Not only are they far less costly than plumbed devices and easier to
move when workflow changes, they are also designed to dispense a buffered saline
solution that approximates the pH of the human eye at ambient temperatures (typically
60-100° F). However, some important operating and maintenance concerns remain.
Many self-contained units are filled with ordinary tap water, which presents certain
risks for flushing the eyes. Even though self-contained units are designed to be filled
with a buffered, preserved saline solution, many users fill the reservoir with common tap
water, which only increases the likelihood of contaminants in the water supply.
Regular maintenance is essential, and ANSI standards recommend that inspection
and maintenance be carried out in strict accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
That typically involves cleaning, disinfecting and changing the flushing fluid as often as
every week with untreated tap water, to every six months with preserved saline
solutions. Filler caps, nozzles, basins and drains can be breeding grounds for bacteria
and collection points for other harmful elements. If the tank is not thoroughly disinfected,
these harmful elements can be left behind to contaminate the new water source. As
such, the maintenance of these units can be costly and time-consuming.
Sealed-Cartridge Devices feature factory-sealed cartridges that typically contain
purified, buffered saline eyewash solution that remains free of bacteria or contamination
for up to 24 months. Because these units can only be refilled using factory-sealed
replacement cartridges (not filled on-site using bacteria-harboring tap water), they are
safer than other self-contained devices.
24-month cartridges minimize maintenance. Unlike plumbed fixtures or other selfcontained portable systems, which require constant and costly maintenance, sealed
cartridges last up to two years and take less than five minutes to replace.
Sterile Solution represents the future of emergency eyewash. Although sealedcartridge devices represent a superior option for treatment of workplace eye injuries, the
units do not offer a 100 percent sterile solution. Recent research has proven that sterile
emergency eyewash solutions deliver additional benefits to the patient being treated.
The findings were compelling enough to warrant the FDA’s plans to soon enforce
regulations on the use of sterile solutions in portable emergency eyewash.
Sterile solution offers unmatched safety. When compared to tap water, sterile
solution offers the best protection from contaminants and bacteria that could lead to
secondary trauma to an injured eye. Because it is sterile and free of contaminants and
living microorganisms that can cause secondary infection, sterile solution also reduces
the risk of potential liability if eye injury from flushing with contaminated water occurs.
Sterile saline solution offers significant advantages over tap water and even the first
generation of sealed cartridges produced with purified water. It is buffered to the same
pH as the human eye, which is especially important in the case of chemical splashes,
when the eye’s pH is disrupted. Because it utilizes a physiologically correct saline
solution that is similar to human tears, it can be used for a full 15 minutes without
irritation to the eye. Sterile saline solution also maintains its stable pH during all stages
of use, including storage and flushing.
The Choice is Clear
Nothing is more important than an employee’s safety, and a safe working environment
should be a top priority for all employers — especially in work environments where
hazardous chemicals are present. By following the requirements and recommendation
set forth by OSHA and ANSI, employers can be more proactive in ensuring the safety of
their workplace and avoiding costly eye injuries. Prevention, training, and preparedness
are vitally important to ensure that workers’ are protected, but should an accident occur,
having the best and safest emergency equipment and the best flushing fluid available
can make all the difference.