Emergency Eyewash Stations

Ever had something in your eye?  Sawdust, metal chip, chemical?  Nothing to joke about, serious and even permanent damage can occur from something as small as a piece of dust.  Most eye injuries can be prevented, of course, through the proper use of personal protective equipment (glasses, goggles, shields, etc.)  But what do you do when it happens to you?

Not much can substitute for an eyewash station and if you work in an environment where there is debris or chemicals that are or could become airborne you should have an eyewash station nearby.

Paragraph (c) of OSHA’s Occupational Safety & Health Standards – 29 CFR 1910.151 (Medical services and first aid.) requires “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 of immediate emergency use”.

Where are eyewash stations used?
Eyewash facilities are required in workplaces where corrosive chemicals are used (29 CFR 1910.151(c)), as well as in HIV and HBV research laboratories and production facilities (1910.1030(e)(3)(i)), and where there is any possibility that an employee’s eyes may be splashed with solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde (1910.1048(i)(3)). They may also be found in research and production laboratories, in medical facilities and other workplaces with materials that may cause injury to or infection of the eyes. 

Eyewash stations come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations.  Many do not require running water.  There are portable models, sink mounted models, and faucet mounted attachments.  They mostly accomplish the same thing but you should always seek the best one your facility will accommodate.

Whatever eyewash station your conditions dictate, make sure you follow some simple safety guidelines specific to this type of equipment.  Cleanliness is most important.  An eyewash station full of sawdust is as much a hazard as the tools creating the dust.  Make sure your station is clean, covered, and protected at all times.  Routine inspections are recommended.

Clean, suitable water is also very important.  Many stations come with filters and some portable ones with proper additives or refills of proper water/fluids.

How can improperly maintained eyewash stations cause infections?
Water found in improperly maintained eyewash stations is more likely to contain organisms (e.g.,Acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas, Legionella) that thrive in stagnant or untreated water and are known to cause infections. When a worker uses an eyewash station that is not maintained, organisms in the water may come into contact with the eye, skin, or may be inhaled. Workers using eyewash
stations after exposure to a hazardous chemical or material may have eye injuries that make the eye more susceptible to infection. Also, workers with skin damage or compromised immune systems (e.g., transplant recovery, cancer, lupus) are at increased risk for developing illnesses from contaminated water. Early diagnosis is important to prevent infections from causing serious health effects, including permanent vision loss and severe lung diseases (e.g., pneumonia).

Faucet mounted eyewash stations can provide a low cost alternative to expensive dedicated equipment (not that there isn't a place for dedicated equipment).  The AXION eyePOD offers a thermostatically-controlled, faucet-mounted eyewash that provides facilities with AXION Medically Superior Response eyewash capabilities in an attractive, low profile, cost efficient design.

Contact Engman-Taylor for information on the Axion eyePod and other options for eyewash stations and overall plant safety.

Another good idea is a mat on the floor under the eyewash station.  Water from the station is often spilled during the rinse and the last thing you want is someone with temporarily affected vision to slip and fall.  The floor mat can also be used to mark the area so that no obstructions are placed there.

Sources:
https://blog.hawsco.com/osha-potential-risk-from-contaminated-water-in-eyewash-stations/
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3818.pdf