Construction is one of the most fast paced and ever-changing industries on the planet, employing 6.0% of the UK workforce and an expected growth of 251,500 over the coming years to meet current demand. With the vastness of the sector comes a variety of hazards that workers are exposed to, making accidents prevalent and often unprecedented.
With winter quickly approaching, ensuring that your emergency safety equipment can withstand the steep drop in temperature is a must. The UK’s winter temperatures average between 6.6C and 7.4C, with other areas of Europe, such as Germany, reaching lows of -3.8C. In these conditions, water can freeze in the standpipe, rendering the unit inoperable. If your safety showers and eye baths are not functional in the event of an emergency, this poses further danger to the casualty and significant fines and/or imprisonment can be imposed.
The European standards, BS EN15154 and the international standard for safety showers and eye/face wash equipment, ANSI Z358.1-2014 specify that water delvered by an emergency safety shower must be tepid and is vital to ensuring worker safety.
Safety showers provide immediate relief for employees splashed with hazardous chemicals. However, a safety shower that operates outside of the tepid water range can cause more harm to a victim
The American National Standards Institute are responsible for the internationally recognised safety standard surrounding safety shower and eye/face wash equipment, and EN15154 as the European equivalent. Compliance to these standards is crucial to ensure your work site supplies the necessary equipment to aid a casualty in the event of a chemical spill and prevent any further harm from being caused.
The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK. Employing over 450,000 workers across 11,000 businesses¹, its influence extends internationally, firmly establishing Britain as a dietary powerhouse. With growth expected to exceed a further 12% over the coming years, the industry value is beyond measure.
In the realm of workplace accidents and chemical spills, every second counts. The rapid response to emergency situations can often be the line between minor inconvenience and severe injury.
Self-contained and resilient, emergency tank showers are suitable for all climates and locations, and often the simplest and most comprehensive way to stay compliant. But what sets the Hughes emergency tank shower apart from others on the market? We've started with ten reasons, but we could go on and on!
On industrial sites without a reliable hot water source, the provision of plumbed-in safety showers and eye/face washes able to provide tepid water can be challenging. International standards stipulate that safety equipment must provide tepid water, defined as between 16C and 38C, to prevent further injury in the event of a chemical spill and to prevent the casualty from pulling away from the flow of water before completing a full 15-minute decontamination.
Emergency tank-fed safety showers are essential, life-saving pieces of equipment to decontaminate a casualty in the event of a chemical spill. In remote environments, tank showers remain the preferred solution as they are self-contained and do not require a plumbed-in water source for a full decontamination. In extremely hot climates, the temperature of the water within the overhead tank can heat due to solar radiation, risking scalding for the user.
From food and drink containment to perfumes and colognes, glass and glass containers are an essential part of our day-to-day lives. It’s forecasted that 916 billion units of glass bottles and containers will be manufactured in 2028 alone. Throughout the production process, many caustic and corrosive chemicals such as ammonia, silane, and titanium tetrachloride are used which can cause severe harm in the event of a chemical spill. Worker safety must be maintained as a priority.
Safety showers are the first line of defence against the effects of skin contact with chemicals or dangerous materials. When they haven’t been properly maintained or regularly serviced, they don’t offer workers the protection needed in emergencies. The impact can be severe – life-changing injuries, permanent disabilities, and in the worst scenarios, even death.
