Emergency Eyewashes and Showers

Are emergency eyewash and shower stations ayailable m the work areas myolyed m the ABC Co. processing ... 

When working with caustic, follow the advice of OSHA title 29 part 1910.151(c) which states Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive chemicals, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. What constitutes suitable facilities is outlined in ANSI Z358.1 which is the standard for emergency eyewash and shower equipment. 

American National Standards Institute Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. ANSI Z 358.1 - 1990, New York, NY, 1990. 

Chemical laboratories must be equipped with a combination emergency eyewash and shower. The unit should be located at a distance of no more than 10 seconds of level, unobstructed travel time from anticipated exposure points. As an estimate, 100 feet (30 m) can be traveled in 10 seconds if the pathway has no obstacles. The location of the emergency wash must be clearly marked, well lighted, and easily accessible. No obstacles or doorways should be located on the travel path, which should have few turns. 

For more than 35 years, the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 standard on emergency eyewash and shower equipment has been the authoritative document for equipment manufacturers, users, specifiers, installers and regulators. This standard specifies minimum performance criteria for flow rates, temperature, and drenching patterns of emergency showers, eyewash equipment, combination units and drench hosts — all characteristics that are important for a user to receive adequate rinsing of a contaminant in an emergency situation. 

The eyewash and shower standard is developed by the Emergency Eyewash and Shower Group of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and approved as an American National Standard. The current edition was approved in September 2009, and designated ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009. 

In addition, in an October 18, 2010, OSHA memo to the regional administrators, OSHA says that equipment compliant with the 2009 version of ANSI Z358.1, American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment provides suitable eyewash facilities for exposures to Portland cement. 

American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 1990. Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment ANSI Z358.1-1990. New York ANSI. American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 1992. Practices for Respiratory Protection ANSI Z88.2-1992. New York ANSI. 

OSHA does not provide much detail about emergency eye wash and shower installations. On the other hand, OSHA letters of interpretation state that these installations must meet the specifications of ANSI Z358.1, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. OSHA has also released OSHA STD 1-8.2, Instruction on eye wash and body flushing facilities in storage battery charging and maintenance areas. These two documents generally require ... 

ANSI Z358.1 — Emergency eyewash and shower equipment. 

ISEA. ANSI/ISEA American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. Arlington International Safety Equipment Association 2009. 

The frequently asked questions (FAQs) format of this manual highlights specific questions most often asked about OSHA general industry standards. The FAQs are divided into topics that cover a variety of workplace safety issues, including powered industrial trucks, emergency eyewashes and showers, exit routes, etc. This is intended to allow the user to quickly locate information that may be relevant to their operations. These FAQs are not to be considered complete and do not relieve employers from complying with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. 

If an employee is hindered in some way from either getting to or using an eyewash or shower station, it would be considered obstructed access under American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1-2009, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, standard. Specifically, the ANSI standard states that a door is considered to be an obstruction. Other obstructions would include stairs, machinery (e.g., a conveyor that must be lifted), stored materials, etc. Also, the standard says that stations should not be located near potential hazards that may be adjacent to the path of travel that might cause further injury. 

The OSHA standard only says that emergency eyewashes/showers, be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. And the ANSI standard says that the path of travel to an emergency eyewash and shower must be free of obstructions that may inhibit its immediate use. Obviously, if any items or equipment are placed around a unit, it would likely impede immediate use. 

While OSHA does not address this issue, ANSI standard Z358.1-2009 for emergency eyewash and shower equipment defines acceptable flushing fluid as one of the following ... 

Potable means safe to drink. If water used for eyewash and showers is from a municipality, then it meets the definition of flushing fluid per the ANSI standard because it s treated and tested to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards. If, however, well water is used it s suitability must be confirmed via adequate testing to ensure it meets the same EPA requirements and can thus be used for emergency eyewashes and showers. 

Yes. OSHA uses the newest version of the ANSI emergency eyewash and shower standard as an enforcement tool to determine a unit s suitability as required under 1910.151(c). If a unit does not meet the standards outlined by ANSI, then OSHA may consider the unit to be unsuitable, and therefore in violation of the OSHA standard. 

Question 1 Will OSHA cite a facility for not following the recommendations as stated in ANSI standard Z358.1-1990 Specifically, will an OSHA inspector cite a facility for not supplying tempered water to an emergency eyewash and shower ... 

As you may know, 29 CFR 1910.151(c) does not provide specific instruction regarding the installation and operation of emergency eyewash and shower equipment. Therefore, it is the employer s responsibility to assess the particular conditions related to the eyewash/shower unit, such as water temperature, to ensure that the eyewash/shower unit provides suitable protection against caustic chemicals/materials to which employees may be exposed. 

E, Emergency Eyewashes and Showers. P/Q, Powered Industrial Trucks. 

---