Emergency Shower & Eyewash Station Requirements Per ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009 Standard

In our last blog post we talked about Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulations in regards to Emergency Showers & Eye Wash Stations. We also introduced American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) standards that cover all situations where employees are exposed to hazardous materials. These regulations help employers select and install the correct emergency equipment that meets OSHA requirements. In this blog post we will expand upon and list out specific Emergency Shower and Eyewash Station requirements listed in the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009 standard.

Emergency Shower Requirements

Plumbed Shower: An emergency shower permanently connected to a source of potable water
Self-Contained Shower: A shower that contains its own flushing fluid, and must be refilled or replaced after use

The specifications below are for plumbed showers only.

• Heads
  • Positioned 82″—96″ from floor
  • Spray pattern will have a minimum diameter of 20″ at 60″ above the floor
  • Flow Rate=20 gallons per minute (GPM) at 30 pounds per square inch (PSI)
  • The center of the spray pattern shall be located at least 16 inches from any obstruction
• Valves
  • Activate in 1 second or less
  • Stay-open valve (no use of hands)
  • Valve remains on until the user shuts it off
• Installation
  • Emergency Shower shall be located in an area that requires no more than 10 seconds to reach.
    • *Consult a medical professional to determine the appropriate distance for harsh acids and caustics (high hazard=closer distance)
  • Shower location shall be in a well-lit area and identified with a sign
  • Shower shall be located on the same level as the hazard
• Maintenance and Training
  • Plumbed emergency showers will be activated weekly to verify correct operation
  • All employees who might be exposed to a chemical splash shall be trained in the use of the equipment
  • All showers shall be inspected annually to make sure they meet with ANSI Z358.1 requirements

Eye Wash Station Requirements

Plumbed Eye Wash Station: An eye wash unit permanently connected to a source of potable water
Gravity-Feed Eye Wash Station: An eye wash device that contains its own flushing fluid and must be refilled or replaced after use

• Heads
  • Positioned 33″—45″ from floor
  • Positioned 6″ from wall or nearest obstruction
  • 0.4 gallons per minute (GPM) for 15 minutes for plumbed units shall provide flushing fluid at 30 PSI
  • 0.4 gallons per minute (GPM) for 15 minutes for gravity-feed units
• Valves
  • Activate in 1 second or less
  • Stay-open valve (leaving hands free)
• Installation
  • Eye wash station shall be located in an area that requires no more than 10 seconds to reach.
    • *Consult a medical professional to determine the appropriate distance for harsh acids and caustics (high hazard=closer distance)
  • The location of the eye wash station shall be in a well-lit area and identified with a sign
  • Eye wash stations shall be on the same level as the hazard
• Maintenance and Training
  • A plumbed eye wash station shall be activated weekly to verify proper operation
  • Gravity-feed units shall be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  • All employees who might be exposed to a chemical splash shall be trained in the use of the equipment
  • All eye/face wash stations shall be inspected annually to make sure they meet ANSI Z358.1 requirements

Eye/Face Wash Station Requirements

An Eye/Face Wash Station is a device used to irrigate and flush both the face and the eyes.

• Heads
  • Positioned 33″—45″ from floor
  • 6″ from wall or nearest obstruction
  • Large heads to cover both eyes and face or regular size eye wash heads plus a face spray ring
  • 3 gallons per minute (GPM) for 15 minutes
• Valves
  • Activate in 1 second or less
  • Stay-open valve (leaving hands free)
• Installation
  • Eye/face wash shall be located in an area that requires no more than 10 seconds to reach.
    • *Consult a medical professional to determine the appropriate distance for harsh acids and caustics (high hazard=closer distance)
  • The location of the eye/face wash station shall be in a well-lit area and identified with a sign
  • Eye/face wash stations shall be on the same level as the hazard
• Maintenance and Training
  • A plumbed eye/face wash station shall be activated weekly to verify proper operation
  • Gravity-feed units shall be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  • All employees who might be exposed to a chemical splash shall be trained in the use of the equipment
  • All eye/face wash stations shall be inspected annually to make sure they meet ANSI Z358.1 requirements

Personal Eye Wash and Eyesaline Requirements

A Personal Eye Wash is a supplementary eye wash that supports plumbed units, gravity-feed units, or both by delivering immediate flushing fluid. Personal eye wash units can provide immediate flushing when they are located near the workstations. Personal eye wash equipment does not meet the requirements of plumbed or gravity-feed eye wash equipment. Personal eye wash units can support plumbed or gravity-feed eye wash units, but cannot be a substitute. Personal eye wash can be delivered through bottles of saline solution designed to simulate human tears. Individual bottles can be carried by workers and provide relief in the crucial seconds until an approved eye wash station installation can be reached.

Personal Eye Wash and Eyesaline Available at Tanner

• EW KIT – PhysiciansCare Combination Eyewash & First Aid Station
• EW FS – Pac-Kit Eyewash Station – (3) 8 oz. Bottles
• EW 16OZ – Pac-Kit Eyewash Station – (1) 16 oz. Bottle
• EW 16OZ-2 – Pac-Kit Eyewash Station – (2) 16 oz. Bottles
• EW 32OZ – Pac-Kit Eyewash Station – (1) 32 oz. Bottle
• EW 32OZ-2 – Pac-Kit Eyewash Station – (2) 32 oz. Bottles

Drench Hose Requirements

A drench hose is a flexible hose connected to a water supply and used to irrigate and flush eyes, face and body areas. Hand-held drench hoses support shower and eyewash units but shall not replace them according to the ANSI standards.

• Heads
  • 3 gallons per minute (GPM)
• Valve
  • Activate in 1 second or less
• Installation
  • Assemble per the manufacturer’s instructions
  • The location of the drench hose shall be in a well-lit area and identified with a sign
• Maintenance and Training
  • Activate each drench hose weekly to verify proper operation
  • All employees who might be exposed to a chemical splash shall be trained in the use of the equipment
  • All drench hose equipment shall be inspected annually to make sure they meet ANSI Z358.1 requirements