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Guidelines for Eye Wash Stations

When it comes to the design and use of emergency eyewash stations, The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) relies on guidelines created by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The guidelines for eyewash stations, "ANSI Z358.1," was originally written in 1981 and has been revised many times since. The most recent edition was published in 2004.

  1. Water

    • According to OSHA standards, the temperature of the water at an eyewash station should be between 60 and 105 degrees F. The water should flow in abundance, but at a "low velocity." The eyewash station must deliver at least three gallons of water a minute for 15 minutes, according to ANSI Z358.1 section 6.1.6 and 6.4.5.

    Location

    • OSHA mandates that emergency equipment like eyewash stations should be accessible within 10 seconds walking time. Emergency equipment must be installed in the same area as a potential hazard and it should not require climbing stairs or ramps to be accessible. The path to the emergency eye wash station should be free of obstacles.

    Employer Compliance

    • Employers are required to ensure that sufficient efforts have been made to provide emergency care for employees who may encounter hazardous materials. According to OSHA, employers that do not provide the minimum protection will be issued citations for violating the Code of Federal Regulations 29; Part 1910.

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