When a corrosive chemical comes in contact with eyes or skin, tissue damage begins immediately. When done properly, irrigation improves the medical prognosis and reduces the risk of long-term tissue damage.
Proper irrigation is made easier by emergency shower and eyewash equipment.
This equipment is specially designed to wash chemicals from the whole body, the eyes and face, or specific areas. Although emergency shower and eyewash stations have been part of the workplace for more than 70 years, it wasn't until 1981 that a comprehensive industry standard was developed. Through the coordinated efforts of the Industrial Safety Equipment Association, industry, labor, government, and the medical community, a consensus standard was approved, culminating in the creation of the ANSI Standard Z358.1, first issued in 1981. This standard is on its newly released third issue and is now referred to as ANSI Standard Z358.1-1998. Emergency showers are designed to provide a deluge large enough to encompass the whole body.