The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) frequently issues
citations relating to the lack of emergency eyewash fountains and the lack
of a deluge shower. The OSHA standard referenced most often is 29 CFR
1910.151(c). The standard states:
“Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive
materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes
and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.”
There is no exact criteria describing what specific chemical properties or
amounts will invoke the standard.
The current American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard,
ANSI Z358.1, Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, provides
details on eyewash and shower equipment and system specifications. When the
ANSI standard was updated in 1998, it featured a significant change to the
original version that relates to the location of emergency flushing
facilities. In response to end-user concerns, the newer standard emphasizes
the time it takes a worker to reach the eyewash or shower, rather than the
distance traveled. Therefore the flushing facility should be located such that
it is not just close at hand but also easy to access.
Here are general recommendations for location and operation of eyewash fountains:
- Locate the eyewash fountain in the immediate area of the hazard (within 10 seconds).
- Ensure the fountain is easily accessible, conspicuous and marked by a green and white sign.
- Ensure there are no doors, ramps or steps in the path and that turns are minimized.
- Ensure the fountain provides for “no hands required” operation after simple activation.
- Install nozzles at 33 - 45 inches (83.8 -114.3 cm) from floor.
- Use caps or similar devices to cover the nozzles. Caps should be displaced by the initial flow of water.
- Ensure the fountain has two streams, meeting at nearly a vertex, with a constant flow for 15 minutes that provides a minimum of 0.4 gallons per minute (1.5 liters per minute) potable water or commercial flush.
- Provide automatic control of the fountain water temperature and pressures. Water temperature should be tepid or lukewarm, between 15 and 35 degrees C (60 and 95 degrees F).
- Equip plumbed fountains with an audio and visual alarm on a spring-loaded bypass. This alarm should alert others to the emergency and should be designed with an automatic reset function. The bypass allows employees to test the “eye-full tower” units without setting off the alarm.
- Conduct weekly checks to flush lines and verify proper operation; plumbed units should be flushed for three minutes.
- Use portable units only where fixed installations are not feasible.
- Provide squeeze bottles only in conjunction with eyewash stations.
- Train workers on the location and proper use of eyewash fountains, and training should address holding eyelids open and rolling eyeballs to flush the entire eye.
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