Location of eyewash stations in the tank area

Eyewash stations and safety signs are installed outside.

According to the \"Design Code for Occupational Safety and Health in Petrochemical Enterprises\" SH 3047—93, 4.4.2, a dedicated safety room should be installed near the plant control room; this room should be equipped with protective clothing, neutralization tanks, facilities for washing the body, eye wash stations, emergency medications, and other such items. $ f E S5 k) j 4.4.3 Near the feed pump of the main distillation tower, the reflux pump, and the feed pump of the regeneration tower, personal neutralization tanks, emergency showers, and eye wash stations should be installed. A neutralization tank for equipment and tools should be installed within the facility. 5.7.10 The filling plants for phenol and propanol should be mechanically ventilated, and emergency showers and eye wash stations should be installed at the points where phenol is filled into barrels. 5.10.1 Equipment containing hydrogen fluoride shall be located in one designated area, surrounded by dikes and clear safety signs. The area should be equipped with a neutralization tank for personnel, a neutralization tank for equipment and tools, washing facilities for personnel, and eye wash stations. 5.10.5 A dedicated safety room shall be provided within the facility, equipped with a neutralization tank, showers, and eye wash stations, as well as safety protective clothing and first-aid kits. According to the \"Regulations on Safety and Health Design for Chemical Enterprises\" HG 20571—95, 4.1.4, in work environments with toxic hazards, necessary sanitary protection facilities such as shower stations and eye wash stations should be installed, with a service radius of less than 15 meters. And according to the characteristics of the tasks and the requirements for protection, accident cabinets, first-aid kits, and personal protective equipment are provided. 4.6.5 In work areas where there is a risk of chemical burns, necessary safety measures such as eye wash stations and shower stations should be installed, and first-aid kits should be provided in the plant area. The staff is equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment. HG 20532—93 5.5.1.9 Emergency facilities such as water spray systems and eye wash stations should be installed in close proximity to the work areas where highly toxic materials are handled. In chemical production, there are various occupational hazards, such as toxic chemicals, productive dust, corrosive chemicals, harmful physical factors (high temperature, low temperature, etc.), or biological factors. Under certain conditions, occupational hazards act directly on the human body, damaging health and causing occupational diseases. Today’s safety regulations require that workplaces with toxic and hazardous conditions be equipped with essential emergency eye wash and shower facilities. Article 23 of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases stipulates: “In toxic and harmful workplaces where acute occupational injuries may occur, employers shall install alarm devices, provide on-site first-aid supplies, flushing equipment, emergency evacuation routes, and necessary danger relief areas.” ”Relevant design codes in our country also contain provisions to this effect. Article 4.1.4 and Article 4.6.5 of the “Regulations on Safety and Hygiene Design for Chemical Enterprises” (HG20571—95), Articles 1.10.5, 2.8.2, and 5.7.10 of the “Code for Occupational Safety and Hygiene Design of Petrochemical Enterprises” (SH 3047—93), as well as Article 5.5.1.9 and Article 7.2.4 of the “Regulations on Safety and Hygiene Design for Chemical Powder Engineering” (HG20532—93) all clearly stipulate the requirement to install necessary safety and hygiene facilities such as eyewash stations and safety showers. Eye wash stations and shower stations, as emergency equipment in the event of an accident, are designed to provide immediate water flow to wash the eyes, face, or body of workers who have been exposed to chemicals, thereby reducing the potential harm caused by those chemicals. Whether rinsing is performed in a timely and thorough manner is directly related to the severity of injury and prognosis. However, they only provide preliminary protection for the eyes, face, and body; they cannot replace basic protective equipment such as safety glasses, splash guards, protective gloves, splash-resistant gowns, or chemical-protective suits. Nor can they replace necessary safety handling procedures or medical treatment. Regarding the specific specifications for eye wash stations and shower stations, in China, only Article 4.1.4 of the \"Regulations on the Safety and Health Design of Chemical Enterprises\" (HG20571—95) stipulates that their service radius should be less than 15 meters. The American standard ANSI Z358.1—2004, as an internationally recognized standard for eyewash stations and shower stations, is adopted by many countries; it also serves as a basis for formulating such standards in various other regions, including Australia’s standard AS4775—2007 and Taiwan, China’s CNSl4251 T2048—1998. European Standard EN15154—1&2:2006 specifies detailed requirements regarding the installation, use, specifications, and testing of vertical body washers and vertical eye washers for use in laboratories. European Standard EN 15154—3&4:2007 deals with non-vertical body washers and non-vertical eye washers intended for use in laboratories. The following discusses several aspects related to the installation of emergency eye wash and shower equipment in accordance with ANSI Z358.1—2004: 1. Hazard identification – A thorough assessment of the potential hazardous factors and risk levels in the workplace is crucial for selecting and installing appropriate emergency equipment, ensuring that the right devices are chosen. For hazard identification, reference can be made to the entries regarding the hazardous properties, health hazards, and first-aid measures of substances in the MSDS of chemical materials. Appendix F of the \"Regulations on Safety and Health Design for Chemical Powder Engineering\" (HG 20532—93) lists the chemical powder materials that can cause chemical burns to the human body ； The \"Design Code for Occupational Safety and Health in Petrochemical Enterprises\" (SH 3047—93) specifies several types of petrochemical production units that must be equipped with scrubbers and eyewash stations ； The \"Diagnostic Criteria for Occupational Chemical Eye Burns\" (GBZ54—2002) lists the chemicals that can cause chemical eye burns, all of which can be used as a reference. Furthermore, hazard identification is carried out in both the preliminary safety assessment and the current safety assessment of the project, providing a basis for identifying these hazards. Through identification, production workshops, warehouses, tank areas, laboratories, and outdoor work sites that pose risks from toxic substances, dust, low temperatures, high temperatures, or chemical burns require the installation of emergency eye wash stations and emergency shower stations. Equipment manufacturers of emergency eyewash stations and emergency shower systems can also assist in identifying hazard sources in the workplace and conducting risk assessments, thereby providing more practical recommendations for the installation of such systems. 2 Selection of equipment: There are a wide variety of eye washers and shower devices available on the market, both domestic and imported. Imported products are generally designed and manufactured in accordance with the American standard ANSI Z358.1—2004, but their design may not conform to Chinese ergonomical principles; therefore, improved versions suitable for Chinese users can be chosen. Eyewash stations and shower units are classified by type into three categories: eyewashing, face washing, and showering, as well as their combined types. Furthermore, ANSIZ358.1—2004 specifies that a drench hose can replace an eyewash station or a combined eyewash and face wash station provided it meets the appropriate requirements, but it cannot replace a shower head. The flushing hose serves as a useful supplement to eyewash stations and shower units, and is especially suitable for places such as laboratories. Portable eye washers are mainly suitable for workplaces that do not have a fixed water source or where the workplace needs to be moved around frequently. The main materials for eye washers and shower units include stainless steel, copper, and engineering plastics; the choice should be based on the specific working environment. Imported products are generally made of ABS engineering plastic ； Domestic manufacturers of eye washers and shower heads generally use 304 stainless steel, a material that meets drinking water standards and is resistant to corrosion by common chemicals. However, in highly corrosive environments such as those with strong acids like hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, or strong bases like sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, as well as chlorides and fluorides, ordinary stainless steel cannot withstand such conditions. In such cases, it is necessary to use imported stainless steel or brass materials for ABS-coated eyewash stations, or eyewash stations made of stainless steel with high corrosion resistance. In cold regions in the north, it is also necessary to take into account situations where the water temperature in winter is very low or even freezes; manual or foot-operated emptying methods, as well as more advanced automatic emptying systems for eye washers, can be used to prevent freezing of the water outlet pipes of these eye washers ； Electric heating or electric tracing equipment can also be used to bring the outlet water temperature to the required level. 4 Outlet water temperature, water quality, water pressure, and flow rate 4.1 Outlet water temperature ANSI Z358.1—2004 specifies that the outlet water temperature of eyewash stations and shower stations should be “mild,” and further stipulates that it should range from 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (156. C-37.8. C) ensures that the immediate water outlet temperature remains within this range for at least 15 minutes. EN 15154—1:2006 states that outlet water temperatures above 37°C have been shown to be harmful to the eyes, as they can lead to chemical interactions with the eyes and skin, causing further damage. If the water temperature is too low, it may prevent users from standing under the shower equipment, leading to greater injuries. 15. C serves as an appropriate lower limit for warm water, without causing a drop in the user’s body temperature. To achieve a moderate outlet water temperature, the simplest method is to divide the water supply into a cold water and a hot water system, and then install a mixing valve to bring the temperature of the mixed water to the desired level. Electric heating devices are commonly used to provide hot water, but electric heating equipment requires a heating process, and it is not possible to immediately supply a mild water source needed for emergency flushing. An electric heat tracing system can be used to heat and prevent freezing of the water coming out of the pipeline system at the beginning. 4.2 Water quality: ANSI Z358.1—2004 and EN 15154—1&2:2006 require that the water used in eyewash stations and shower stations be drinking water or water of a quality equivalent to drinking water. In current designs in our country, clean water sources such as tap water are sufficient; they are generally connected directly to the water supply network, which can meet the demand for large amounts of water in emergency situations. The water supply pipes for eyewash stations and shower stations should be separated from other pipes to prevent contamination. The rinsing fluid is not limited to clean water; a suitable rinsing fluid should be selected based on the characteristics of the chemicals. Common irrigation fluids include clean water, normal saline, and neutralizing solutions such as 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, 3% boric acid solution, and 0.1% glacial acetic acid. Depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the chemical substance, it can be rinsed with a neutralizing solution, clean water, or saline for more than 15 minutes. Materials that are flammable when exposed to moisture, such as potassium (sodium) metal, limestone, calcium carbide, potassium hydride, etc., should not be rinsed with a small amount of water; instead, they must be rinsed with a large amount of water. For chemicals that, in addition to causing local tissue damage, can be absorbed and lead to systemic toxicity and organ damage, special treatment methods must be employed. For instance, in cases of hydrofluoric acid burns, mere rinsing is insufficient to prevent fluorine ions from penetrating into deeper tissues. Negative ions can cause nerve depolarization, resulting in severe local pain. Only by subcutaneous injection of calcium gluconate at a mass fraction of 10% in the affected area can fluorine ions be neutralized and the pain alleviated. 5 Installation requirements: The service radius for eyewash stations and shower units should be within 15 meters, to ensure that it takes the user no more than 10 seconds to reach the equipment in a straight line. The device must have working positions in at least 3 directions, with no obstacles around it to allow for quick use. The center of the eye wash station must be 40.6 em (16 inches) away from any obstacles. There should be no electrical switches around the eye washer to prevent accidents. A passage at least 1m wide must be maintained in all areas with eye wash stations and shower stations. At the same time, maintain an open area with a diameter of not less than 1.2 meters centered around the spray head, and this area must be painted in a safety color. Around eyewash stations and safety showers, there should be prominent signs. Ideally, these signs should be in both Chinese and English, along with illustrations, to clearly indicate to personnel at the workplace the location and purpose of the eyewash stations and safety showers. Luminous indicators can be installed on the equipment, and explosion-proof audio-visual alarms as well as explosion-proof lights can be provided to alert other people to come and provide assistance when the equipment is in use. Each nozzle of the eye washer should be equipped with a dust cover. The valve of the eye wash station should be easy to operate, and it should take no more than 1 second to open. The valve must also be corrosion-resistant. The nozzle of the eye washer should be equipped with a filter to prevent debris in the water from causing damage to the eyes. 6 Maintenance, repair, and training of equipment: If eyewash stations and shower devices are not used for an extended period of time, impurities may accumulate in the water pipes. Using water containing such impurities to wash the eyes can easily lead to eye inflammation and exacerbate eye damage ； If used to rinse skin damage caused by chemical burns, infections can easily occur, leading to serious consequences. Therefore, eyewash stations and shower equipment should be activated at least once a week to check whether they are functioning properly. This frequency helps reduce the chances of sediment buildup in stagnant water pipes and the potential growth of microbial hazards. For portable eye washers (such as portable eye wash units or portable pressure eye washers), it is necessary to assign a dedicated person to check daily whether there is an adequate supply of water. It is also recommended to replace the stored water source once a day to ensure water quality. An annual inspection of eye wash stations and shower equipment is required each year to check whether the equipment is in good condition. For workers who are exposed to hazardous working environments for extended periods, equipment suppliers should provide more technical guidance on how to use eyewash stations and shower facilities correctly. Workers must be familiar with the location of first-aid equipment, especially when there are changes to the emergency equipment or its layout. Workers should be retrained regularly, with a reminder that the presence of emergency equipment does not replace the use of basic personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, splash guards, protective gloves, splash coats, and chemical-resistant suits. For the maintenance and repair of eye wash stations and shower equipment, manufacturers should provide corresponding technical training. 7 Other aspects: If workers suffer from severe eye burns, they won’t be able to see the path ahead at all; or if they suddenly experience chemical poisoning and become unable to walk on their own, it will be very difficult for them to reach emergency eyewash and shower facilities. Should surrounding personnel fail to notice this in time, it will inevitably delay the rescue efforts. Therefore, regular inspections should be intensified in hazardous work areas, and alarm systems or video surveillance systems should be installed on-site to enable the timely detection of accidents such as severe eye burns and severe poisoning, allowing for rapid rescue actions. Furthermore, it is not sufficient to simply install emergency eyewash stations and shower units; companies should also provide other emergency rescue equipment such as gas masks, suction devices, nebulizers, oxygen respirators, and first-aid medications, to be used in conjunction with the eyewash stations and shower units. 8 Conclusion Considering that in most areas of our country, the establishment of specialized treatment facilities and teams for acute chemical poisoning is still far from adequate, and aside from large petrochemical companies, only a few chemical enterprises have their own hospital or medical clinic, it is particularly necessary to equip these enterprises with emergency rescue devices such as eyewash stations and shower units, so as to seize the \"golden time\" for emergency treatment. Enterprises should develop comprehensive emergency rescue plans, clarify job responsibilities, establish internal emergency rescue teams, and conduct regular training in relevant professional knowledge and skills as well as emergency drills. Enterprises should proactively establish good information channels with medical and health institutions such as hospitals, so as to receive prompt treatment from them in case of emergencies.

Located outside the dike, no special drainage facilities are required, along with safety warnings.

There are few eyewash stations in tank areas; they are usually installed only where there are toxic substances present. If settings are necessary, should they be made in the valve area, the loading/unloading area, and the pump area? Leaks at flanges may occur in these areas.