Eyewash Station Standards

Personal eye wash units can support plumbed or gravity fed eye wash units but cannot be a substitute.

Eyewash station standards.

National standards institute ansi has established a standard covering emergency eyewash and shower equipment. When an accident happens safety equipment needs to be accessible and operating properly in order to provide the type of emergency treatment capable of avoiding serious injury. If none of the materials used in this work area is an injurious corrosive chemical as indicated by the material safety data sheet msds for each product then an emergency eyewash or. This ansi standard is very detailed in terms of defining what is appropriate for safety showers and eyewash stations.

This standard ansi z358 1 is intended to serve as a guideline for the proper design certification performance installation use and maintenance of emergency equipment. This standard written and published by the international safety equipment association isea an ansi accredited standards developing organization establishes minimum performance and use guidelines for eyewash and shower equipment for the emergency treatment of the eyes or body of someone who has been exposed to hazardous materials. Ansi standard z358 1 2014 was used in preparing this document. An annual inspection should be conducted to ensure compliance with the standards for operation.

As a result the american national standards institute ansi standard z358 1 2014 emergency eyewash and shower equipment is generally used as a guide. The occupational safety and health association osha is the regulatory agency that specifies where and when this emergency equipment is needed and osha depends on the american national standards institute ansi to develop standards to specify the use and performance requirements. Eye wash station inspection requirements employee safety is an important responsibility that extends beyond simply having the right equipment somewhere in the building. Is the eyewash station regularly tested and inspected.

Fortunately we have the american national standards institute ansi and their consensus standard z358 1 last updated in 2014. The eyewash unit should be activated weekly to make sure it functions properly and is able to supply water. As the standard states an eyewash and or safety shower would be required where an employee s eyes or body could be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.