Emergency Safety Showers by Colloide
Importance and Purpose of Safety Showers for Chemical Dosing Sites
Emergency safety showers are essential first-aid equipment when Chemical Dosing equipment is employed. They are designed to minimise harm from exposure to hazardous or corrosive substances, commonly found in industries handling dangerous chemicals. They deliver a specific and controlled flow of water for a specific duration of time. This enables rapid removal of the chemical by thoroughly rinsing harmful substances from the person’s body. Their primary purpose is to protect workers when handling chemicals and ensuring a safe workplace environment.
Colloide’s Emergency Safety Showers
At Colloide, safety is at the core of our engineering approach. Our Emergency Shower and Eye Bath Stations are designed and built to the highest standards. They provide dependable protection in hazardous environments such as chemical dosing sites. Each unit complies with BS EN 15154, ANSI Z358.1, and WIMES 8.02, ensuring full alignment with both UK and international safety regulations.
These self-contained, gravity-fed systems are ideal for sites without reliable access to a plumbed water supply. Equipped with a 1700L insulated tank and immersion heater. They are capable of delivering a full 15-minute decontamination cycle. Ensuring safe and effective emergency response in line with best practice. Key features include a high-visibility red panic bar and optional foot-activated walk-on panel, enabling intuitive and rapid activation in critical moments.
Every unit includes a drench shower, integrated eyewash basin, and optional hose reel, providing comprehensive wash-down facilities. Units are dispatched fully assembled and installed on-site by Colloide, requiring only water and electrical connections by the client.
To maximise safety, Colloide recommends that all personnel are trained in the unit’s use and location. Upon commissioning, a full demonstration is provided, ensuring staff are confident in activating the system. Whether operated by stepping onto the platform or using the handle, the unit ensures continuous flow until deactivated, while the eye bath remains active until the lid is closed.
From design through to installation and training, Colloide delivers complete emergency safety solutions engineered for reliability, compliance, and peace of mind.
Hazards of Sites without a Safety Shower
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are injuries to the skin caused by contact with a severe or caustic substance. Common symptoms are redness, pain, and blister formation, and in severe cases, tissue damage may occur.
Inhalation
Breathing in chemicals is damaging because these substances can enter the bloodstream and potentially lead to respiratory challenges, as well as irritation of the eyes and skin.
Fire and Explosion
In instances of fires or explosions immediate cooling helps to prevent further injuries or damages to the exposed person.
Design Features of Safety Showers and The Benefits of Fitting these Systems
Rapid Decontamination From Chemical Contact
This is crucial to minimise injury risk in the event of a hazardous leak. Safety showers lessen the impact of the chemical interaction on the person.
Reduce Inhalation Hazards
Safety showers provide immediate decontamination by thoroughly drenching the person exposed to harmful chemicals. This washing action prevents the chemicals from evaporating and being inhaled.
Lowered Likelihood of Thermal Shock and Hypothermia
Due to the recommended decontamination time being 15 minutes at a temperature of between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius this helps to reduce the risk of thermal shock and hypothermia.
Enhanced Staff Safety and Assurance
Workers generally feel more assured in a workplace that provides an emergency safety shower. This gives a feeling of protection knowing that risks can potentially be reduced and managed if an exposure were to occur.
Reduce Risk of Tissue Injury
The sooner an individual who has been exposed to a chemical undergoes decontamination using an emergency safety shower, the higher the likelihood of limiting the degree of tissue injury.
Better Hygiene Practices
Safety showers increase overall hygiene practices. These appliances should also be regularly cleaned, maintained and tested to ensure risks associated with working with chemicals are mitigated as much as possible.
Compliance with Safety Regulations
Safety showers play a key role in ensuring compliance with UK safety regulations, such as EN 15154-1, which helps organisations avoid legal penalties while prioritising employee wellbeing. By adhering to recognised standards, businesses not only meet essential health and safety requirements but also demonstrate their commitment to creating a safer work environment. Additionally, implementing safety showers supports compliance with international guidelines like ANSI Z358.1. This further reduces the risk of legal and financial repercussions. Beyond regulatory obligations, these systems help boost employee confidence by fostering a culture of safety and protection in the workplace.
Requirements of Safety Showers
Safety showers must adhere to strict requirements to ensure effective emergency response. The flow rate should deliver a minimum of 76 litres per minute, with the system capable of operating continuously for at least 15 minutes. Water temperature must remain tepid, ranging between 16-38°C , throughout use to prevent further injury. Only potable, clean, and safe water is acceptable to maintain hygiene standards. The shower must be located within 10 seconds of any potential hazard to ensure quick accessibility. Additionally, the activation mechanism must switch from ‘off’ to ‘on’ within one second and remain operational without the need for continuous manual engagement, staying open until intentionally closed. These standards are essential to provide reliable and efficient emergency protection in hazardous environments and sites with Chemical Dosing systems.
Contact Us
For any enquiries, please feel free to contact Colloide. Our team is here to assist with your questions and provide the information you need. Reach us via phone, email, or by filling out the contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.
Emergency Safety Showers in Action
Welshpool Sewage Treatment Works
Severn Trent Water
Alton Sewage Treatment Works
Severn Trent Water
Worthen Sewage Treatment Works
Severn Trent Water
Our Chemical Dosing Solutions
Colloide’s Chemical Dosing Solutions are designed for precision, safety, and efficiency. With over 20 years of experience, we deliver standardised and bespoke dosing systems that meet the demands of water utilities across the UK and Ireland. From fast-track deployments to full turnkey packages, our systems ensure accurate chemical delivery, reduced maintenance, and long-term operational reliability.
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