Safety Shower Eyewash Stations Checklist

Emergency eyewash stations, when properly maintained and located, can save the eyesight of an injured worker. For this reason, OSHA and ANSI have set strict guidelines on where these units should be installed as well as their performance standards.

Location

• Safety regulations require eyewash stations and showers be available to all employees who have the risk of being exposed to corrosive materials. The product MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) will include information on the corrosive nature of the product as well as the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Where it is found corrosive materials are in use, an emergency eyewash/shower must be located within 50 feet or a 10-second walk from the employee's workplace. These units must be clearly marked and fully accessible at all times.

Operation

• An eyewash station should not require the injured person to remove any secure devices. The eyewash station must be designed in such a way that an injured person can turn it on with no difficulty. The water in the station should be maintained at a reasonable temperature (60 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). There must be enough volume to provide a continuous flow of water for a minimum of 15 minutes. Eyewash bottles are not a viable substitution for an eyewash station, as they cannot provide the required 15 minutes of continuous flow.

Inspection

• There are two primary types of eyewash stations, the plumbed unit and the self-contained unit. A plumbed unit must be inspected and activated at least once a month to insure it is in good operating order. A self-contained unit should be checked monthly and cleaned out at least every six months. A written record of these monthly inspections should be maintained at the eyewash station. This can be done by using a log book, or a tag. In either case the reporting method should be secured so it will be certain to remain at the station.