Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question:
Is there anywhere specific an eyewash station needs to be placed in a facility?
This was our answer:
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29 CFR 1910.151(c) states “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 for immediate emergency use.”
While the OSHA regulations specify when eyewash equipment is required, they do not provide requirements for the actual installation and operation of the eyewash stations. Rather, OSHA recommends that employees refer to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a source of guidance for installation and operating guidelines. The ANSI standards are frequently used by OSHA as a guide for inspecting workplace facilities, so compliance with the ANSI standard for emergency eyewash stations is important.
ANSI Z358.1 says eyewash stations must be within 10 seconds walking time and on the same floor level of an area where there is reasonable expectation of exposure to hazardous substances.