Sheila

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Sheila M. Kennedy, C.H.O.

Safety Coordinator | CHEM Teaching Laboratories

Chemistry & Biochemistry | University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Dr. | La Jolla, CA  92093-0303

Office: (858) 534 – 0221

Another question from this week’s lab inspections:
We have a 2004 Science building with eyewashes built into the wall (similar to the design found at
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.eyewashdirect.com_Bradley-2DS19294HB-2DBarrier-2DFree-2DEyewash-2Dw-2DTailpiece-2Dp_s19294hb.htm&d=BQIGaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=EVo3tbkOvis_mZs4Ub41BYWHRcWLULcsLsexjSt5GMA&s=xM9PVi18EaMDhCtVyzxv7LI9sjPW1BE7hK0Sp0SB0fA&e=  ). When the eyewash is activated, the water flows back into the drain in the wall and then expelled onto the floor under the eyewash in an ever-growing puddle. My immediate concern is that the water comes out of a pipe which is between 6 and 10 inches from the floor. (There is a floor drain in the area of the pipe which serves the safety shower as well.) The imedidate problem is that location of the drain pipe is low enough that collecting water from it when flushing the eyewash is difficult; we currently use a secondary containment bin tipped under the pipe in such a way that we’re able to collect about 1/3 of the capacity of th!
e bin.

I wonder if anyone on the list has developed a modification to this design that is reasonably priced (we’re talking about 20 units with this condition) that would allow for collection of the flush water in a way that is convenient for the person conducting the flushing? This design also presents challenges for the emergency eyewash use case, but that’s not my primary motivation in considering modifications; I’m more concerned with enabling more frequent flushing of the eyewashes.

Thanks for any experience with this question.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu