Environmental Health and Safety

Emergency Equipment

Emergency Showers and Eye Washes

Suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the body and eyes must be provided near the work area for emergency use where eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious, corrosive materials. These facilities must be installed such that:

  1. The shower and/or eyewash must be located within 10 seconds of unobstructed travel from site of corrosive material use.
  2. Operating chains or bars must be freely accessible so the shower can be used in the event of an emergency.
  3. The area beneath and in front of each safety shower and eyewash station must be kept clear and unobstructed at all times.
  4. Immediate and extended (15 minutes), continuous flow must be available to laboratory users.
  5. Eye wash bottles for immediate eye rinsing have shelf lives and must be maintained. These units do not meet the extended flow requirement for a laboratory, but may be used as a supplement to permanent eyewash stations
  6. Permanent installations must also be maintained. Eye and face wash stations must be flushed by laboratory users on a weekly basis by allowing the water to flow for approximately 3 minutes to remove stagnant water from the pipes. Maintain a record to verify weekly checks.
  7. Emergency showers should be tested twice a year (preferably at the beginning of the Spring and Fall semesters) by laboratory personnel to ensure safe operation when needed in the event of an emergency.
  8. New installations must allow for hands free continuous operation. Check with EHS for guidance on ANSI standard expectations for new installations.

For more information see Emergency Shower Testing Initiative

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are placed in or near laboratories depending on the degree of fire hazard.

Fire extinguishers are installed, inspected and maintained per NFPA 10, please Contact EHS if an additional extinguisher is needed or an existing extinguisher needs to be relocated.

Campus standard fire extinguishers are 10# ABC, if special agent extinguishers are required please Contact EHS for assistance.

Laboratories that require Class D (flammable solids) fire extinguishers, should consult with EHS. Class D fire extinguishers must be purchased by the using laboratory and special training is required. EHS will provide inspections and maintain records.

Fire extinguisher demonstration and training is provided by EHS, to register for training either sign up through HRIS self-service or send an email to learning-develop-hr@k-state.edu. When sending an email, please include your name, employee ID and the course title.