Start here · Liquids · Chemical and waste safety basics
Eyewash station
Also called: eyewash, emergency eyewash
A fixture or bottle station for flushing the eyes after a splash.
OSHA requires a way to quickly flush the eyes wherever workers use corrosive chemicals. Blood or saliva splashed in the eyes also needs rapid flushing with water. A widely used guidance standard (ANSI Z358.1) calls for 15 minutes of flushing, and OSHA has said small 4-ounce bottles are not enough for a blood splash.
How to spot it
- A sink-mounted fixture with two spray heads under dust caps, or a wall station with large eyewash bottles and a green sign.
What it is used for
- After a splash, hold the eyelids open and flush for the full time; then report the exposure.
- Keep the path to it clear and check it on the schedule your office sets.
Safety and care
- Eye protection is the first defense; the eyewash is the backup.
- Report any blood or saliva splash to the eyes right away; it is an exposure incident.
Related
Sources: OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.151 Medical services and first aid, paragraph (c), OSHA. Standard interpretation (2020-11-06): Emergency eyewash requirements for eye hazards caused by bloodborne pathogens, OSHA. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030