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What are the requirements for eye wash station according to OSHA Standard in a workplace?

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Question added by Hafeez Rahman , HSE Manager , Alstom Transportation
Date Posted: 2017/01/24
Muhammad Saif ud-din Qureshi
by Muhammad Saif ud-din Qureshi , Freelance QHSE & other Management Systems Auditing, Compliance, Development, Training & Maintenance , Working as a Free Lancer

Few of the general requirements with respect to Eye Wash Station are the following :

  • Distance of Eye Wash Station from the Area, where the chemicals which can likely injure the eyes are being used and stored.
  • Log of periodic checking of the flow of water at the station.
  • Cleaning schedule of the Eye Wash Station and surrounding area, to avoid the possible slippage.
  • Inlet Water and Filter Analysis, if the in-let water is likely from High PH, Sodium and TDS sources.

It is always better not to provide Mirror close to station and this can become disturbing for the effectees to see their eyes.

Faizal Ebrahim Noorgat
by Faizal Ebrahim Noorgat , QHSE Admin , Swissport Saudi Arabia Ltd

Exposure to injurious corrosive must have suitable eye face wash facility for quick flushing of eyes and prevention of any injury. ANSI standard for emergency eyewash can be followed. Employees must have easy access to these facilities and should know where its located. Has to checked and serviced to ensure its operational .

Roshan Zameer
by Roshan Zameer , HSE Co-ordinator , Globe Constructors LLC

Where there are chances of eyes of a person are exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities should be provided for quick flushing of eyes. clear signboards should be placed, proper training should be given within the working area for immediate emergency use.

Japhet Canales
by Japhet Canales , Safety Supervisor , Shinbo E&I Engineering Company

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on emergency eyewash and shower station are contained in 29 C.F.R. 1910.151, which provides that "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." However, OSHA regulation is unclear defining what facility is required. From this reason, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed a standard (ANSI Z358) for emergency eyewash and shower stations, including the design of such stations

·         Emergency eye wash station should located in the place that victim are easy to reach.[7]

·         Eyewash station should provide equal amount and velocity of water on both side of it.[8]

·         Water flow should be controlled and have low velocity to rinses both eyes and is not cause any injurious to user (Section 5.1.1)

·         Flow of water need to be sufficiently high to allow user to hold eyes open while rinsing (Section 5.1.7)

·         Spray heads need to be protected from any airborne contaminants by cover and need to be removed by water flow easily (Section 5.1.3)

·         Flow need to deliver at least 0.4 gallons (1.5 liters) of water per minute for at least 15 minutes (Section 5.1.6, 5.4.5)

·         Flow pattern need to have positioned between 33" (83.8 cm) and 53" (134.6 cm) from the floor and at least 6" (15.3 cm) away from the wall or nearest obstruction (Section 5.4.4)

·         Hands-free stay-open valve need to be open within one second (Section 5.1.4, 5.2)

·         Valve actuator need to be easily seen and accessible by user (Section 5.2)

·         Eyewash unit need to be able to wash both eyes simultaneously and water flow covers area on more than 8" above spray head (Section 5.1.8)

·         Water temperature of eyewash should be temperate

·         Eyewash should have visible sign showing the location of the units.

 

·         The emergency eye wash station sign should place near the emergency eye wash station

 

safety shower and eyewash station should be within 10 second walking distance from the place of hazard occurred and must located on the same floor of the hazard so the victim does not have to go up or down the stair when accident occur. Moreover, the path way should be clear and no obstacle.

mahmood saleem
by mahmood saleem , Project HSE Manager , Qatar Engineering & Construction Compny Qcon

Where the eyes of a person are exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities should be provided for quick flushing of eyes within the working area for immediate emergency use.

Adaye Opubo Tarri
by Adaye Opubo Tarri , Safety Officer , Remm Oil Service Limited

The OSHA requirements for emergency eyewashes and showers, found at 29 CFR 1910.151(c), specify that "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. As the standard states, an eyewash and/or safety shower would be required where an employee's eyes or body could be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. 

29 CFR - 1910.151(c) Basical requires Eyewash safety showers to be located where corrosives or chemicals are utilized for immediate usage. It covers inspection, maintenance etc. Its also covered in ANSI Z358.1 Standard as well.

Peermydeen Samsudeen
by Peermydeen Samsudeen , Health And Safety Engineer , Specon L.L.C

  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 any body shall be provided within work area for immediate emergency use.

Muhammad Ahmed
by Muhammad Ahmed , Consultant HSE (Health Safety Environment) Manager , National Engineering Bureau

The OSHA requirements for emergency eyewashes and showers, found at 29 CFR 1910.151(c), specify that "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. As the standard states, an eyewash and/or safety shower would be required where an employee's eyes or body could be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. If none of the materials used in this work area is an injurious corrosive [chemical] (as indicated by the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each product), then an emergency eyewash or shower would not be required pursuant to 1910.151(c). While not having the force of a regulation under the OSH Act, the current ANSI standard addressing emergency eyewash and shower equipment (ANSI [Z]358.1-2004) provides for eyewash and shower equipment in appropriate situations when employees are exposed to hazardous materials. ANSI's definition of "hazardous material" would include caustics, as well as additional substances and compounds that have the capability of producing adverse effects on the health and safety of humans. ANSI's standard also provides detail with respect to the location, installation, nature, and maintenance of eyewash and shower equipment. You also may wish to consult additional recognized references such as W. Morton Grant's Toxicology of the Eye (Charles C Thomas Pub. Ltd., 4th edition, August 1993) when considering potential chemical exposures to the eye and the appropriateness of installing eyewash facilities to protect employees against hazards associated with particular chemicals and substances.

Christina Rodriguez
by Christina Rodriguez , School Nurse/ Health and Safety Representative , ACS Doha International School

Requirements are emergency eye wash station with sign board, safety shower, monitoring sheet of eye wash materials and log book of accidents

chandrakishor moothedath
by chandrakishor moothedath , Hse Officer , ESSAR

Required these main things first one is required eye wash station signs boards, safety Shower and Eye wash station log book,

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