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ANSI Eyewash Requirements

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is recognized as the foremost authority in the United States on the systematic approach to gauging the efficiency of products, services and industrial processes. ANSI does not set standards, but their accreditation of a product or a technology is accepted as the hallmark for acceptable quality by governmental agencies, trade organizations and consumer advocacy groups. This accreditation applies to eyewash facilities in the American workplace.

  1. ANSI and OSHA Eyewash Requirements

    • The requirement to provide emergency first aid in the workplace is regulated and administered by the Department of Labor under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These standards are monitored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and various state and local agencies, which rely on ANSI accreditation for first aid and emergency facilities on the job. ANSI eyewash requirements fall under section Z358.1 of its workplace safety standards. Although OSHA regulates eyewash facilities under its own standards (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Section 1910.151), it concurs with ANSI eyewash requirements. Generally, the eyewash requirements used by both ANSI and OSHA state that an employer must provide suitable facilities for drenching or flushing of the eyes for employees working in areas where corrosive materials are present.

    Specific ANSI Eyewash Requirements

    • Facilities for emergency flushing of the eyes and bodies of employees are generally linked together as eyewash and shower requirements. These standards are even used by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health (CCOSH), which relies on ANSI eyewash requirements for its national workplace safety programs. The CCOSH website defines the aspects of ANSI eyewash requirements including the provision of a flushing fluid (potable water, saline solution). ANSI recommends that large amounts of flushing fluid be applied at a low pressure immediately to the eyes and for a minimum of 15 minutes thereafter. CCOSH also refers to other recommendations that distinguish between types of contaminants that may cause injury to the eyes. Non-penetrating corrosives, which includes most industrial acids, require a minimum of 20 minutes for flushing. Penetrating corrosives such as alkalis, phenol, and hydrofluoric acid should be flushed for at least 60 minutes, according to CCOSH recommendations.

    Construction of Eyewash Facilities

    • The North Carolina Department of Labor refers to ANSI eyewash requirements in its workplace safety and health standards. One aspect of emergency first aid for eye injuries is the construction and plumbing of eyewash stations on the job site. Chapter 2 of the 2010 Industry Guide to Eyewash and Safety Shower Facilities provides a table of requirements for how an eyewash station is to be installed and maintained. Table 1 in this chapter is a summary of Z358.1-2009 ANSI eyewash requirements, which states that an eyewash station should consist of water nozzles located between 33 and 45 inches above the floor and six inches from the wall. The flow rate of the water is required to be 3.0 gallons per minute (GPM). Further information from this guidebook states that an eyewash station must be located so that it can be reached within 10 seconds or less, and that the plumbing lines need to be activated at least once per month for testing.

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