What is considered an obstructed path of travel to an eyewash or shower station?

If an employee is hindered in some way from either getting to or using an eyewash or shower station, it would be considered obstructed access under American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1-2014, “Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment,” standard.

Specifically, the ANSI standard states that “a door is considered to be an obstruction.

Where the hazard is not corrosive, one intervening door can be present so long as it opens in the same direction of travel as the person attempting to reach the emergency eyewash and shower equipment and the door is equipped with a closing mechanism that cannot be locked or impede access to the equipment.”

OSHA also says that a door is an obstruction in a February 27, 2007 Letter of Interpretation.

Other obstructions could include stairs, machinery (e.g., a conveyor that must be lifted), stored materials, etc. Also, the ANSI standard says that eyewash and shower stations should not be located near potential hazards that may be adjacent to the path of travel that might cause further injury.