Eyewash Stations

Is your eyewash station within 100 ft or a 10 second walk of hazardous chemicals? What about your water temperature? In 1998, the American Nation Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1 included a general requirement the water temperature for the eyewash be tepid and that the water must run for 15 minutes for proper flushing of the eye. Prior to this requirement, eyewash stations were attached to the cold water tap and could cause an uncomfortable chilling effect. In the 2004 revision, ANSI clarified the definition of “tepid” to be in the range of 60 degrees F to below 100 degrees F. Very few labs have implemented this requirement and if cited by OSHA could lead to fines in the five figures. According to an article by Casey Hayes in the May 2007 issue of Occupational Health and Safety, the fines levied against a lab for non-compliance often equal the cost of the changes needed to comply.