With temperatures plummeting to as low as -7.8°C (18°F) in some parts of the United Kingdom in November, Hughes Safety Showers urges businesses to prioritise safety by ensuring their emergency showers and eye wash stations are winter-ready through regular servicing.

When temperatures drop below 0°C (32°F), feed pipes on both mains and tank-fed safety showers and eye washes can freeze. This can render vital safety equipment inoperable and put workers’ lives at serious risk during emergencies.

Businesses can find themselves exposed to potential compliance violations too. The penalties for violations of EN15154 and ANSI Z358.1-2014 standards include significant fines and/or imprisonment.

“We recommend businesses get their safety showers and eye washes serviced at least once a year. It’s an essential step in making sure the equipment is fully functional and compliant with industry standards,” said Helen Hoyle, UK Services Manager at Hughes.

“Our expert servicing ensures equipment continues to provide that all-important first line of defence for workers when they need it most.”

How to Prepare Safety Showers and Eye Washes for Winter

  • Choose the Right Equipment: having the right safety shower installed should be the first step. Frost-protected and immersion-heated safety showers are designed to cope with freezing temperatures.
  • Carry Out Weekly Activations: they’re quick and easy. They flush away sediment build-ups that may have been lying dormant in the feed pipes – which, particularly with eye washes can cause further injury.
  • Schedule Regular Servicing: annual maintenance by certified technicians can extend the lifespan of safety equipment, reduce repair costs, ensure compliance with safety regulations and, most importantly, reduce risk to the end user.

“Regular servicing and weekly activation are not just about compliance; they protect lives. The initial operational expense of booking a service can reduce the significant capital costs of replacing damaged equipment too.

 “We also offer complimentary site surveys to help businesses determine whether they’ve got the right type of equipment in place. This is so important in combatting the freezing conditions winter brings,” Helen continued.

For more information about what to consider, read Hughes’ guide ‘Can Your Safety Shower Survive the Cold?’,