The fertiliser industry uses extremely hazardous materials in their production processes. Common industry chemicals like anhydrous ammonia can cause burns and inhalation hazards.Others like ammonium nitrate pose a risk of fire and explosion.

In 2006 a large explosion at a fertiliser plant in Teeside, UK caused a fire involving mixed gases including hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia prompting the police to declare a major emergency.

EU and International standards, EN15154 and ANSI Z358.1-2014, stipulate weekly testing and inspection of safety showers and eye washes, as well as annual servicing to remain compliant. If a shower fails to function correctly or further injures an employee, significant fines and/or imprisonment could be enforced.

Self-contained and resilient, emergency tank showers are suitable for all climates and locations, and often the simplest and most comprehensive way to stay compliant. But what sets the Hughes emergency tank shower apart from others on the market? We've started with ten reasons, but we could go on and on!

The water held in a self-contained shower or eye/face wash units may become stagnant. This makes it susceptible to bacterial growth and if not properly treated and maintained can become a source of infection.

We outline some practical steps for limiting bacteria growth in your safety showers and eye/face wash equipment.

Tepid water is defined as temperature-controlled water and is one of the requirements for safety equipment to adhere to international standards. For the water supplied by a safety shower to be compliant to ANSI standards this range must be between 16C to 38C (60F to 100F), and 15C to 37C (59F to 98F) for the European EN15154 standard.

Industries worldwide rely on the steady supply of minerals and metals harvested by the mining industry such as coal, iron ore, bauxite, and potash. Though the final products of mining may not be hazardous, there are many chemical risks that mine workers are exposed to daily.

Emergency tank-fed safety showers are essential, life-saving pieces of equipment to decontaminate a casualty in the event of a chemical spill. In remote environments, tank showers remain the preferred solution as they are self-contained and do not require a plumbed-in water source for a full decontamination. In extremely hot climates, the temperature of the water within the overhead tank can heat due to solar radiation, risking scalding for the user.