Drench Showers & Eye Wash Stations

Protect staff against eye injuries and chemical contamination with emergency showers and eye wash stations from Cromwell. We provide a comprehensive range of emergency wash stations for both permanent installation and portable and wall-mounting options. Choose from reliable brands, like Arboles®, Medikit®, Reliance Medical®, St. John Ambulance® and our own brand, Tuffsafe®.

What are emergency showers & eye wash stations?

For workers exposed to chemicals or other hazardous substances, emergency showers and eye wash stations are a must-have in your first aid arsenal.

Emergency showers, or drench showers as they're sometimes known, are used to quickly wash someone who has been covered with hazardous liquids or dust to prevent injury or further contamination.

Emergency eye wash stations are used for flushing the eyes of foreign objects or chemical splashes. They should be easily accessible and contain single-use bottles, sachets, or pods of eyewash solution.

When are emergency showers & eye wash stations used?

For workers who are exposed to hazardous liquids and chemicals, emergency showers are widely used in laboratories and healthcare settings. Emergency eye wash stations on the other hand are used in a wide range of workplace settings, including warehouses, healthcare industries, education and more.

Considerations when choosing emergency showers & eye wash stations

• Type - emergency showers are plumbed into place regardless, however, in the case of eye wash stations you have a choice of a permanent installation, a freestanding case or moulded wall-mounted station.

• Location - the space you have available for emergency showers and eye wash stations is an important aspect when making your choice.

• Staff - make sure you have enough facilities for the number of employees you have on site. For more information check www.hse.gov.uk.

Emergency showers & eye wash stations jargon buster

We want to keep you up to date with safety and quality standards that may affect your purchases. So, we've outlined and explained an applicable standard below...

What does BS EN 15154-2:2006 mean?

This is the second part of the safety standards for emergency safety showers. It covers plumbed-in eye wash units and is intended for use by designers, manufacturers, quality controllers and plumbers. It provides product specifications and performance requirements for plumbed-in eye wash units along with installation guidelines and maintenance guidance.

Let's break it down...

• BS - An acronym for the British Standards Institute, which produces and monitors British safety and quality legislation.

• EN - This acronym shows that the standard has also been adopted into European legislation.

• 15154 - This is the standard identification number.

• 2 - This covers the part of 15154 that covers plumbed-in eye wash units.

• 2006 - This standard was published and came into effect in 2006.

FAQs

Do emergency showers need to be heated?

Emergency showers don't need to be heated per se, especially since some chemicals may react to certain levels of heat. However, the water should be lukewarm (tepid) and so cannot be drawn directly from the cold-water supply.

What are the two types of eye wash stations?

Eye wash stations are available as a permanent installation or as a wall-mounted stations which must be refilled after use. Permanent stations are plumbed into the mains water supply and provide an unlimited amount of water. They're designed specifically for washing the eyes and face with two upturned shower heads angled to the eyes above a catch bowl. Stand-alone stations can be wall-mounted and include disposable bottles, pods, or sachets of eye wash which can be replenished after use.