Despite the widely accepted ANSI Z358.1 standard of 15 minutes drench time, some types of contaminants require more than a 15-minute drench to adequately remove such contaminants from a worker’s skin and clothing. The one-size-fits-all approach may not address safety issues caused by the range of contaminants that workers can be exposed to.
The standard 15-minute drench time is considered sufficient to wash most contamination off clothing. Unfortunately, there are actually hazardous substances that react when they come into contact with water. Chemicals such as caustic soda morph into a substance with a slimy consistency that is difficult to wash off. This can result in contaminants remaining on clothing even after a 15-minute dowse.
The problem becomes worse when the weather is below freezing. Once tepid water chills down and forms ice crystals, they can adhere to wet clothing. Workers can step out of the shower believing their clothing is safely washed off. What they don’t realize is that ice containing the contaminants may still be caught in their clothing. As the contaminated ice melts, these dangerous chemicals can drip off or seep through clothing and onto skin long after the shower. The risk of experiencing chemical burns from the contaminant is still very real.
These needs have prompted some companies who deal with contaminants, and especially those in the petrochemical industry, to require options for safety tank showers that hold a larger capacity of tepid water. In response to this, safety shower providers, such as Alpine Technical Services (ATS), offer safety shower units that guarantee 30 minutes of tepid water—even in extreme climatic conditions.
ATS’s safety tank showers have been developed especially for use in inhospitable and out-of-the-way environments, where they provide additional water capacity if the tank cannot be refilled right away.
ATS’s safety tank shower guarantees 30 minutes of drenching, even if a site has no main water supply available. With this shower’s 2500-liter tank capacity, there is enough water for two people to use the shower consecutively for 15 minutes each. If a worker uses the ANSI-specified 15 minutes, there is still spare capacity left if maintenance crews cannot access the tank shower immediately for a refill.
Alpine Technical Services is a global leader in Emergency Safety Showers and Eyebath/Facewash equipment, providing solutions for employee safety while ensuring compliance with regulations. ATS has the technology and specialist expertise to provide emergency showers that can withstand extreme temperatures down to minus 40 degrees F and up to plus 120 degrees F.
Alpine Technical Services is the exclusive distributor of Showers & Eyebaths Services safety products throughout the United States. We provide critical information about each shower option and can help you decide on the drenching system that will guarantee the safety of your employees.
To find the right high-capacity tank shower for your company’s needs, visit Alpine Technical Services at www.alpinetech.us.