Eye Wash Stations
You wear eye protection and you have a first aid kit on hand. But accidents can still happen. According to ANSI Standards, you need an eye wash station if your workers are using a material that is termed caustic, toxic or corrosive on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Be sure to set up a specific area for your eye wash station. Dont put an eye wash station in a back corner or some other area where you might be tempted to use it for other things. The eye wash station should ideally be placed in a very accessible area, but one where it is not going to interfere with work activities.
Types of eye wash stations
Several types of eye wash stations are available. They are listed here in descending order of efficiency:
- emergency alarm stations are equipped with an alarm that alerts others to the fact that the station is in use.
- eye wash wall units are mounted on a wall and specially designed to provide maximum flow and ensure fast, effective aid. Victims place their face inside the unit and receive a thorough cleansing.
- portable eye wash units, for use at construction and other mobile sites.
- eye wash bowls are ANSI approved. These can be stand-alone or attached to emergency showers or drench showers. They provide a continuous, hands-free flow of water.
- drench hoses at sinks can get contaminated with sediment and usually require the use of one hand. These do not meet ANSI approval, though companies still use these. If you or your company uses one of these find out about updating your eye wash first aid.
Some quick tips on eye wash station use:
- Have your eye wash stations distributed for maximum safety. Seconds can make a major difference in preventing harm.
- Irrigate for at least 15 minutes
- portable eye wash units, for use at construction and other mobile sites.
- Never use eye wash as a substitute for complete medical treatment.
- Having a backup portable eye irrigation system can be helpful when transporting the victim to a medical institution.
