International Safety Standards
 

Safety Showers and Eye-wash Units

All Safety Showers and eye/face wash units must fully comply with American National Standards Institute Z358.1-1998.  Australian and joint Australian /New Zealand standards, such as AS3780-1994 for corrosive substances, AS/NZS4452-1997 for toxic substances, and AS/NZS 2982-1997 for laboratory construction require the use of Safety Showers and eyewash units which comply with ANSI Z358.1-1998.  All items are manufactured to international quality standard ISO 9002. ANSI Z358.1-1998 Overview The following provides an overview of the reuiremnts of international standard ANSI:
  • The shower head must deliver a minimum of 75.7 lpm (20 US gal/min) at low velocity, and in a pattern 50.8cm (20in) in diameter at a height of 152.4cm (60in) from the floor. The water must be substantially dispersed throughout the pattern.
  • Units should be in accessible locations which require no more than 10 seconds to reach. They must be on the same level as the hazard, and the path of travel must be free of obstructions. For a strong acid or strong caustic an eyewash or eye/face wash should be immediately adjacent to the hazard
  • Each emergency unit must be in a well lit area and identified with a highly visible sign.
  • For chemical contamination, the affected area should be drenched for at least 15 minutes. A doctor or nurse should be notified immediately.
  • The supply line for eyewash and eye/face wash units must provide an uninterruptible supply of water at a minimum of 207 Kpa (30psi) flow pressure.
  • Delivered water temperature must be moderately warm. Temperature in excess of 38C (100F) is harmful to the eyes and can accelerate chemical reactions.
  • Prolonged contact with cold water may also be harmful and discourage use of the equipment.
  •  All employees must be instructed in the location and proper use of emergency units.
Units shall be activated weekly to verify proper operation, maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, and inspected annually to assure conformance with ANSI Z358.1.
 

Storage Cabinets (flammable)

Flammable liquids storage cabinets are manufactured to comply with Australian Standard AS1940-1993. This standard permits storage of up to 250L in any one cabinet. It specifies a number of features to ensure that the cabinet maintains its integrity in a fire situation so that the contents of the cabinet do not add to the fire. These design features include:
  • Walls, floor, door and roof to be of double-walled sheet steel construction.
  • There must be a gap of at least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
  • The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight sump at least 150mm deep to contain spills.
  •  Shelves must be perforated for free air movement, and be capable of supporting the maximum possible load.
  • Doors must be self-closing, close-fitting and held shut by catches at not fewer than two points.
  • Critical components must not melt at temperatures less than 850 degrees C.
  • Any provision for venting must not compromise the integrity of the cabinet.
  • Each cabinet must be marked with its maximum capacity, a Class 3 dangerous goods label, and a NO SMOKING, NO IGNITION SOURCES sign.
Under AS1940, cabinets must be located such that not more than 250L is stored in any 250m2 of floor area, not more than 250L is stored in any 10m of linear distance, and the minimum separation between any two cabinets is 5m. All cabinets must be positioned at least 3m from any ignition source, and they must not block exits and stairways. AS1940 states that external ventilation of a cabinet is not required for fire safety purposes. If venting is not required, vent openings should be kept tightly capped. Any vent must be terminated at least 3m from possible sources of ignition, at least 1m from any opening and at least 3m above ground. The storage of any other class of dangerous goods in a designated flammable liquids cabinet is prohibited under section 3.2.11 of AS1940.
 

Storage Cabinets (corrosive)

Corrosive substances cabinets are manufactured to comply with AS3780-1994. This standard allows for the storage in one cabinet of up to 1000kg or L, of which not more than 250kg or L may be of Packaging Group II and not more than 50kg of L may be of Packaging Group I. Specified design features include:
  • Walls, floor, doors and roof must either be constructed of corrosion-resistant materials or be protected by a corrosion-resistant lining or coating.
  •  The door must be self-closing, close-fitting, and held shut by catches at not fewer than two points.
  • The door must not open inwards and must be capable of being opened from inside the cabinet.
  • The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight compound at least 150mm deep and capable of containing at least 25% of the maximum storage capacity.
  •  Any shelves must permit free air movement.
Where there is more than one cabinet in any building or area, either the total quantity kept must not exceed the maximum allowed in any one cabinet, or the cabinets must be separated by a minimum of 5m. Cabinets must be positioned so that they do not block exits and stairways, and must be near facilities for washing of hands.The storage of any incompatible goods in a designated corrosive substances cabinet is prohibited under section 4.3.2.2 of AS3780.
 

Storage Cabinets (Organic Peroxide)

Organic peroxides storage cabinets are constructed to AS2714-1993. This standard allows for storage of up to 100kg or L in a cabinet, or 50kg or L in the case of Type B organic peroxides. Design features include:
  • Walls, floor, roof and door must be constructed of double-walled steel at least 0.75mm thick.
  • There must be a gap of at least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
  •  The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight sump capable of containing the entire liquid contents of the cabinet.
  • Shelves must be perforated for free air movement.
  •  Doors must be self-closing and close-fitting. They must be held shut by either a friction or magnetic lock, which will release in the event of a build-up of pressure within the cabinet.
  • Door catches and hinges must not be made of plastic.
Every cabinet must be provided with ventilation features adequate to prevent the accumulation of flammable or toxic concentrations of vapours, and to assist in maintaining an even temperature. Where cabinets are vented to atmosphere, ducting must be designed to prevent back pressure and be directed away from ignition sources and areas where persons are likely to congregate. Under AS2714, cabinets must be located at least 3m from any ignition source, and near an external wall of the building. They must not block exits and stairways. The opening, dispensing and weighing of organic peroxides must not be conducted within 3m of a cabinet. The storage of any other class of dangerous goods in a designated organic peroxides cabinet is prohibited under section 3.3 © of AS2714. No pipeline carrying other classes of dangerous goods may pass within 3m of an organic peroxides cabinet.
 

Storage Cabinets (Organic Agents)

Oxidizing agents cabinets are manufactured to AS4326-1995. This standard permits the storage of up to 250kg or L for indoors use, of which not more than 50kg or L may be Packaging Group I. Specified construction features include:
  •  Walls, floor, roof and door of a cabinet must be double-walled steel.
  • There must be a gap of at least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
  •  The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight sump at least 150mm deep and capable of containing at least 25% of the total storage capacity.
  • Shelves must permit free movement of air.
  • Doors must be self-closing and close-fitting. They must be held shut by catches which will release in the event of a build-up of pressure within the cabinet.
  • Door catches and hinges must not be constructed of plastic or zinc die castings.
  • Cabinets must be vented to atmosphere, away from ignition sources and areas where persons are likely to congregate.
Under AS4326, cabinets must be located at least 3m from any ignition source, and near facilities for washing hands. They must not block exits and stairways. Not more than one cabinet may be used in each 100m2 of building area. The separation distance between any two cabinets must be at least 3m. The storage of any other class of dangerous goods in a designated oxidizing agents cabinet is prohibited under section 4.7.1 of AS4326. Where more than one oxidizing agent is kept in a cabinet, they must be compatible.
 

Storage Cabinets (Toxic substances)

Toxic substances cabinets comply with AS/NZS 4452:1997. This standards allows the storage of up to 250kg or L in any one cabinet, of which not more than 50kg or L may be of Packaging Group II and not more than 25kg or L may be of Packaging Group I. Design features include:
  • Walls, floor, door and roof must be double-walled sheet steel, at least 0.75mm thick.
  • There must be a gap of at least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
  • The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight sump at least 150mm deep and capable of containing at least 25% of the total storage capacity.
  • Shelves must permit free air movement.
  • Doors must be self-closing and close-fitting. They must be lockable.
  • Critical components must not melt at temperatures less than 850 degrees C.
  •  Stores of toxic substances must be provided with adequate natural or mechanical ventilation.
Under AS/NZS 4452, cabinets must be located at least 3m from any ignition source, and near facilities for washing hands. They must not block exits and stairways. Not more than one cabinet may be used in each 100m2 of building area. The separation distance between any two cabinets must be at least 3m. Where mechanical ventilation is required, venting must not compromise the integrity of the cabinet design, and surrounding work areas must not be contaminated by emissions. The extraction system must be sufficient to ensure that the ambient concentration of toxic substances within the breathing zone of persons using the cabinet is maintained as low as practicable. The storage of any goods that are incompatible or that react dangerously, in a designated toxic substances cabinet is prohibited under section 4.4.2.1 of AS/NZS 4452.
 

Safety Signs

The Australian Standard covering safety signs is AS1319-1994. This standard sets out  requirements for the design and use of safety signs intended for use in the occupational environment. The aim is to regulate and control safety related behaviour, to warn of hazards and to provide emergency information, including fire protection information. It specifies several sign classifications and layouts as follow.

Prohibition signs indicate that an action or activity is not permitted. Its designated symbolic shape is a red circle with a diagonal red slash through it. This is usually superimposed over a black pictograph, e.g. a cigarette, to indicate what specific activity is referred to. The background is white and any text is black.

Mandatory signs indicate that an instruction must be carried out. Its symbolic shape is a blue circle. A white pictograph, e.g. safety goggles, is superimposed on this to indicate the activity which is to be mandatory. The background is white and any text is black.

Restriction signs place a numerical or other defined limit on an activity or use of a facility. Its symbolic shape is a red circle, but without the diagonal slash as in prohibition signs. This also would have a black pictograph or other legend inside the circle, a white background and any text in black. AS1319-1994 does not give any specific signs of this type, but notes that speed limit signs, as given in AS1742.1, are often encountered in the workplace.

Danger signs warn of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that is likely to be life-threatening. Its symbolic shape is the word DANGER in white on a red oval, which is surrounded by a black rectangle. This usually forms a heading for a white background on the sign. Alternatively, it may occupy the left side of a horizontal sign. Any text is in black. Typical text is HIGH VOLTAGE. Warning signs warn of a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life-threatening. Its symbolic shape is a black triangle. A black pictograph usually appears inside the triangle to indicate the specific hazard. The sign background is yellow with any text in black. Typical text is FORKLIFTS HAZARD.

Emergency information signs indicate the location of, or directions to, emergency related facilities such as exits, safety equipment or first aid facilities. The background is green and any text or pictograph is white.

Fire signs advise the location of fire alarms and fire-fighting facilities. The background is red and any text or pictograph is white.

AS1319 does not specify a required material or nominal size for a sign, but does stress that the type of sign used should be suitable for the intended application, and that employees should be informed of their purpose.

In locations where lighting is good and a sign is mounted in a reasonably prominent position, it is recommended that any symbols be at least 15mm per metre of viewing distance, and any uppercase text be at least 5mm per metre of viewing distance. This should be increased by at least 50% for poor lighting or viewing conditions. Where practical, signs should be mounted close to the observer’s line of sight in the vertical plane.

Signs should be located against a contrasting background, and such that the possibility of it becoming obscured by stacked materials or other visual obstructions is minimized.

For maximum effectiveness, signs should be maintained in good condition, kept clean and well illuminated.

The range of signs is designed to comply with AS1319, as well as numerous other Australian Standards and regulations.