What Is Emergency Shower
An emergency shower is a plumbed safety fixture that delivers a high volume of water, typically 20 gallons per minute or more, to rinse chemical contaminants from a worker's body during acute exposure incidents. OSHA requires emergency showers in workplaces where employees handle corrosive chemicals, solvents, or other hazardous substances that can cause chemical burns or systemic toxicity through skin contact.
Unlike regular showers, emergency fixtures are designed for rapid deployment and high flow rates. They're typically mounted at heights of 82 to 96 inches to allow workers to stand under the spray fully clothed. The activation mechanism must be accessible within 10 seconds of a spill or exposure event, which is why OSHA mandates that emergency showers be located within 10 seconds of travel time from any area where hazardous chemicals are stored or used.
Regulatory Requirements
OSHA's hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to provide emergency eyewash and shower equipment where employees work with hazardous chemicals. Many state OSHA programs enforce additional specifications. For instance, California Title 8 requires emergency showers to be maintained at all times and tested monthly to ensure proper operation.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z358.1 sets detailed specifications for emergency showers, including minimum water pressure (20 pounds per square inch minimum), flow rate (20 gallons per minute), and temperature range (60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit). Water should activate within one second of triggering the control.
Proper Installation and Maintenance
- Install showers in visible, unobstructed locations near hazard areas, not in bathrooms or behind locked doors
- Test monthly for flow rate, temperature, and activation time; document results
- Replace water lines annually to prevent bacterial growth and mineral buildup
- Keep showers supplied with potable water, free of contamination
- Post signage indicating shower location with reflective or luminescent markers
- For homes with chemical storage, consider a portable eyewash/shower station if a plumbed fixture isn't feasible
Decontamination Procedures
When chemical exposure occurs, the worker should activate the shower immediately and rinse for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing. A second person should call emergency services (911) to ensure medical evaluation. The shower should flush contaminants down a drain system designed to handle the chemical in question, not standard floor drains in some cases. After emergency use, the system must be flushed and checked before returning to service. This ties directly to your broader decontamination protocol.
Common Questions
- Do I need an emergency shower in a home garage with stored chemicals? If you store corrosive cleaners, pesticides, or solvents in quantities larger than household use, a portable eyewash/shower station is a practical alternative to plumbed fixtures. For bulk chemical storage, a plumbed emergency shower is recommended.
- How often should emergency showers be tested? Monthly testing is required by ANSI Z358.1 and OSHA guidelines. Document each test with date, flow rate, and any issues. Annual line flushing prevents bacterial contamination.
- Can an emergency shower be combined with an eyewash station? Some combination units exist, but separate fixtures are preferable. An eye wash station provides targeted irrigation for eye exposure, while a full shower handles body contamination. Combination units may compromise flow or positioning for optimal use.