Emergency Eyewashes and Showers

If your employees work with chemicals, dusts, or corrosives, they’re at risk of accidental eye and skin injuries. Cal/OSHA requires emergency eyewash and shower equipment in all work areas an employee may come in contact with chemicals or other substances that can cause corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage. Emergency eyewash stations flush chemicals out of the eyes. An emergency shower is used to wash off the chemicals that come in contact with the skin.

Location and access – In less than 10 seconds, take an injured worker to an eyewash or safety shower.

Water quality and pressure – Water must be potable, tepid (not too hot or cold), and delivered at a pressure that will not damage the eyes (less than 80 pounds per square inch [PSI]).

Operation – The unit must turn on within one second and remain on without using one's hands.

Flow rates – Cal/OSHA requires employers follow the ANSI standard that emergency eyewashes deliver 0.4 gallons of water per minute for at least 15 minutes. Emergency showers must deliver at least 20 gallons per minute for 15 minutes.

Maintenance – Self-contained units must be maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, including replacing flushing fluids or shower water.

Flushing and testing – Plumbed eyewash and shower units must be activated at least monthly to flush the line and verify the function. Annual flow rate testing is required, for example, your eyewash should fill a 1-gallon bucket in 2.5 minutes (equal to the 0.4 gallons per minute referenced above).

Employee training – Employees must know the location of equipment and how to use it before working with substances that can injure the eyes or skin.

How do I know if I need to have an eyewash or a shower?

When using hazardous chemicals, consult the safety data sheet (SDS) for the chemical to determine if an eyewash or shower should be used. Look for statements such as, "Rinse/flush eyes, rinse mouth, rinse/flush exposed skin" and "Emergency eyewash/shower should/must be available." in Section 4 (First Aid Measures) or Section 8 (Exposure Controls/Personal Protection) of the SDS.

You can also look at the hazard codes and precautionary statements in Section 2 (Hazard Identification) of the SDS to determine if you should have an emergency eyewash or shower available.

HAZARD CODE - PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT

P280 - Wear gloves and other protective equipment

P262 - Do not get on skin, clothing, or in eyes

P351 - Rinse with water for several minutes

P352 - Wash with plenty of water

P353 - Rinse skin with water

P360 - Rinse contaminated clothing and skin with plenty of water before removing clothes

Other conditions where eyewashes and showers may be needed

When working in clinical laboratories, dental labs, or veterinary clinics, an emergency eyewash or shower is required if chemical or biological agents can cause eye injuries or infections.

When using EPA-registered pesticides, read the precautionary statements and first aid information on the pesticide label to know whether you need an emergency eyewash or shower available during mixing, loading, or applying the product.

What if there is no plumbed in water in my work area?

Use a portable eyewash – This is not a first aid eyewash bottle, but a gravity fed vessel that holds enough water to deliver 0.4 gallons per minute for 15 minutes (9+ gallon vessels). Follow manufacturer instructions for water changes and disinfecting.

What to do next?

Take a look at your emergency eyewashes and showers to make sure you are in compliance with Cal/OSHA’s regulation. Use our safety meeting topics on emergency eyewashes and showers when training your employees to properly operate this equipment.