Emergency Shower Installation

An emergency shower installation is a first-aid area that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires in certain work facilities, such as buildings where employees handle hazardous materials. The purpose of the installation is to act as a full-body shower in case someone needs to wash dangerous substances off themselves quickly.

Types

• There are two types of emergency showers: self-contained and plumbed. Self-contained showers are equipped with a certain amount of liquid that has be refilled after using the shower. Plumbed installations draw fluid from the building's water plumbing.

Location

• The shower has to be located on the same floor as the hazardous materials that people are handling. It also has to be close enough for an employee to reach it within 10 seconds of being exposed to harmful substances.

Identification

• The installation must be in a well-lit area and identified with a sign that indicates the shower is for first-aid purposes. The sign may read "Safety Shower" or show a picture of a person showering.