• Employers must provide suitable facilities for quick drenching and flushing of the eyes from exposure to injurious corrosive materials.
• Various ANSI standards regulate the design, installation, location, marking, labeling, operation, flushing fluid, maintenance, and inspection of emergency eyewashes.
• Employees must be trained on the proper use and application of emergency eyewashes.

General requirements for emergency eyewashes include:

• Suitable facilities must be provided for quick drenching and flushing of the eyes from exposure to injurious corrosive materials (1910.151(c));
• Eyewashes shall be used only for emergency cleansing of the eye and have no other purpose;
• Installation of eyewashes must be in accordance with manufacturer's instructions including:
  • Proper plumbing and easily located valve activators;
  • Nozzle protection from contaminants;
  • Eye/face clearances; and
  • Protection from freezing.
• Installation, design, and positioning of eyewashes can't pose a safety hazard to users;
• Units must:
  • Be clearly identified (signage) and easily accessible (without obstructions and on the same level as the hazardous materials);
  • Be located within 10 seconds of the exposure hazard;
  • Have valves that activate water flow within one second or less and don't require use of the hands;
  • Have a "tepid" flushing temperature (generally between 60 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit);
  • Deliver a minimum of 0.4 gallons of flushing fluid per minute (to both eyes simultaneously) for 15 minutes at 30 psi;
  • Have eye nozzles positioned between 33 inches minimum and 53 inches maximum from the standing surface, and at least six inches from the nearest wall or object; and
• Be inspected (for operation, cleanliness, etc.) and maintained per the manufacturer's specifications and instructions.
• Inspection and maintenance require:
  • Running the plumbed units weekly to ensure the availability of tempered water;
  • Visually inspecting the self-contained units to verify they are in good condition and changing the water as required (typically done monthly);
  • Annually inspecting the units; and
  • Inspecting units in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Saline bottles use

Saline bottles are intended for minor debris that may find its way into a worker's eye(s). These bottles can only be used to support a plumbed or self-contained unit or as a temporary aid on the way to a plumbed or self-contained unit. These bottles cannot replace eyewashes in areas where there's a potential for exposure to corrosive materials.

NOTE: While ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 is considered a voluntary standard, OSHA often uses it as a guide when inspecting facilities for compliance.