This program contains requirements for emergency eye/face washes and safety showers.

This program is designed to outline the requirements for eye/face wash and shower equipment for the emergency treatment of the eyes or body of a person who has been exposed to injurious materials. It is the responsibility of each department to provide eye/face wash and safety shower equipment within the work area where employees and/or students may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. Emergency eyewash, eye/face wash and safety shower units are not a substitute for proper primary protective devices. Personal Protective Equipment (eye and face protection and protective clothing) should be worn as a defense from flying particles and splashing injurious liquids.

Combination Unit - A unit combining a shower with an eyewash or eye/face wash or with a drench hose, or with both, into one common assembly.

Emergency Shower - A unit that enables a user to have water cascading over the entire body.

Eye/Face Wash - A device used to irrigate and flush both the eyes and face.

Eyewash - A device used to irrigate and flush the eyes.

Hand-Held Drench Hose - A flexible hose connected to a water supply and used to irrigate and flush eyes, face and body areas.

Stay-Open Valve - A valve that must be closed manually.

• Emergency shower heads must be located between 82 inches and 96 inches from the surface on which the user stands.
• Emergency shower heads must be capable of delivering at least 30 gallons of water per minute, at a velocity that will not be injurious to the user.
• Control valves must be of the Stay-Open type.

• Eyewash units shall be installed with the nozzles between 33 inches and 45 inches from the floor and at least 6 inches from the wall or nearest obstruction.
• Eyewash units must provide a controlled flow of flushing fluid to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity that will not be injurious to the user.
• There must be no sharp projections anywhere in the operating area of the unit.
• Discharge nozzles must be protected from airborne contaminants. Whatever means is used to provide this protection must not require a separate motion, by the user, to remove it when activating the unit.
• Eyewash units must be capable of delivering 0.4 gallons of flushing fluid per minute for 15 minutes.
• Eye/face wash units must be capable of delivering 3.0 gallons of flushing fluid per minute for 15 minutes.
• Eyewash units must be designed with enough room to allow the eyelids to be held open with the hands while the eyes are in the stream of flushing fluid.
• Control valves must be of the Stay-Open type.

• Hand-held drench hoses must be capable of delivering 3.0 gallons of flushing fluid per minute for 15 minutes.
• Hand-held drench hoses must provide a controlled flow of flushing fluid to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity that will not be injurious to the user.
• Discharge nozzles must be protected from airborne contaminants. Whatever means is used to provide this protection must not require a separate motion, by the user, to remove it when activating the unit.
• Control valves must be of the Stay-Open type.
• Hand-held drench hoses should not be used as a substitute for an eyewash unit unless it meets the performance indicators listed in the above section.

Emergency showers must be located such that they are accessible, require no more than ten (10) seconds to reach and are within 100 feet of the potential hazard.

Eyewash (including eye/face wash and hand-held drench hoses) units must be located such that they are accessible, require no more than ten (10) seconds to reach and are within 50 feet of the potential hazard (10 feet where strong corrosives are the hazard). NOTE: Remember the injured worker may have to locate the unit while blinded by a contaminant.

Emergency eyewash and showers must be kept accessible. Material shall not be stored or placed in such a manner that would block access to an emergency eyewash or shower.

Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs will work with the occupants of each University building that contains eyewash and emergency shower equipment to determine who will be responsible for the following testing procedures.

Emergency showers will be tested at least quarterly in accordance with the following:

• Verify adequate flow from the unit.
• Verify that the control valve is of the stay-open type and is operating properly.
• Operate for a period of time sufficient to flush any stale water from the supply lines.

Eyewash units will be tested at least monthly in accordance with the following:

• Verify flow from the unit.
• Verify that the control valve is of the stay-open type and is operating properly.
• Verify that the flushing streams rise to equal heights and that the fluid will wash both eyes simultaneously.
• Operate for a period of time sufficient to flush any stale fluid from the supply lines.

Hand-held drench hose units will be tested at least monthly in accordance with the following:

• Verify flow from the unit.
• Verify that the control valve is of the stay-open type and is operating properly.
• Verify that the flushing streams rise to equal heights and that the fluid will wash both eyes simultaneously.
• Operate for a period of time sufficient to flush any stale fluid from the supply lines.
• Verify that the hose is free to extend from the mounting bracket and is easy to maneuver.

Supervisors must train all persons that might be exposed to potentially injurious materials in the location and proper operation of eyewash, eye/face wash and safety shower units. Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs can assist supervisors with this training as needed.