Minimum distance from a NEMA 4X control panel to an emergency eyewash/shower

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ecuinc

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Can anyone tell me the code that states the minimum distance from a emergency eyewash/shower to a NEMA 4X control panel.
 
istm that 6' would be desireable if not required. Anyone using an emergency eyewash may (probably) have a face full of nasty chemicals and would lean on anything convenient or nearby, tho I cant find any OSHA or mfg rules on distance from other equipment.
 
JFletcher said:
istm that 6' would be desireable if not required. Anyone using an emergency eyewash may (probably) have a face full of nasty chemicals and would lean on anything convenient or nearby, tho I cant find any OSHA or mfg rules on distance from other equipment.
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A 4X enclosure can be in a stream of water but even if NEMA 1 I don't know of a code to prevent it from being close.
 
iwire said:
A 4X enclosure can be in a stream of water but even if NEMA 1 I don't know of a code to prevent it from being close.
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There apparently is not. This:

http://www.the-osha-advisor.com/eyewash.html

goes over a lot of the specs, including distance from hazard.

You would not want to locate the eyewash with an electrical enclosure between it and the hazard, say a 50% tank of caustic (think Super Drano). WWTPs have ferrous/ferric chloride (rust in hydrochloric acid), annhydrous ammonia, liquid/gaseous chlorine and sulfur dioxide (or sodium hypochlorite/sodium bisulfite), and concentrated hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide. iow, a ton of things that will quickly ruin your day should you come into direct contact with them. Even if there is no OSHA or other spec, putting something in the way of the eyewash station is asking for a lawsuit when something goes wrong. Next to it, 3' away, maybe not so much.

I only harp on this because New Years Eve 1997, the last shift of the year, we had an operator descend into a containment pit in the dark to take an end of day reading on a caustic tank. While making his way to the sight glass, he accidently kicked the discharge pressure gauge off of the recirc pump for the tank, resulting in him getting blasted in the face and all over with concentrated lye. He stripped naked in 30* weather and made his way to the emergency shower, which saved his eyesight. He was still out of work for almost 2 months tho. I'd hate to see anyone hurt because some bs obstruction was in the way of that shower.
 
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