Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious or 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. These situations include:

• Areas where corrosive or injurious chemicals are used, such as:
  • Solutions of inorganic or organic acids or bases with a pH of 2.0 or less, or 12.5 or more;
  • Other organic or inorganic materials that are corrosive or irritating to eyes or skin (e.g., methylene chloride, phenol); or
  • Organic or inorganic materials that are significantly toxic by skin absorption (e.g., phenol, hydrazine).
• Areas where corrosive chemicals are used in a closed system that can catastrophically fail and cause the chemicals to leak (i.e., liquid lead-acid battery-charging areas, or areas where pressurized systems with corrosive liquids are used);
• Storage areas where breakable containers of injurious or corrosive materials (> 2.5 liters or ~0.6 gal) are handled outside their original shipping cartons;
• Waste accumulation areas that contain corrosive waste materials;
• Areas where operations involve the use of air or water reactive liquids or solids;
• All open tray film-processing work areas using chemical developers and fixers; and
• Acid washing work areas.

UC Practice

29 CFR 1910.151(c)

8 CCR 5162

8 CCR 5217

22 CCR 66261.22

A plumbed eyewash shall be provided for all work areas where, during normal operations or foreseeable emergencies, the eyes of an employee may come into contact with a substance that can cause corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage, or is toxic by absorption. A plumbed eyewash shall be provided at all work areas where formaldehyde solutions in concentrations greater than or equal to 0.1% are handled.

8 CCR 5162(a)

8 CCR 5217(i)(3)

Generally, eyewashes are not required in areas where:

• Chemicals are stored in quantities less than 8 ounces (~240 mL) and used at room temperature at a rate of less than 2 ounces (~60 mL) per day. (Note: perchloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, formaldehyde concentrations ≥0.1 %, and the alkali metals and alkali metal compounds are not covered by this exemption.)
• Compounds hazardous to the eye or skin are used in sealed systems at or below atmospheric pressure, and catastrophic failure or leakage is unlikely. However, an eyewash or shower may be appropriate if the system is filled, topped-off, or drained in other than a totally enclosed manner.
• Materials hazardous to the eye or skin are stored in bulk in metal or plastic containers, and are not decanted.

Emergency eyewash, safety shower, and combination units shall comply with the requirements of ANSI Z358.1.

ANSI Z358.1

Eyewash and safety shower water should be delivered at a tepid temperature. For indoor systems, typical cold water supply temperature is considered satisfactory. If the heating of hot water is required to provide tepid water, then a mixing valve to blend hot and cold water shall be provided.

Outdoor plumbing needs to be protected from the sun and freezing. The requirement to deliver tepid water means that faucet-mounted eyewashes are not acceptable, because the water will emerge at the temperature of the tap water, which could range from ice cold to scalding hot. Tanks holding tepid water shall be avoided because of the risk of Legionella proliferation.

ANSI Z358.1 Appendix B6

The area around the safety shower should be painted a bright color and should be well lighted. Whenever possible, the floor immediately beneath the eyewash and emergency shower, and to a radius of 30 inches, should be constructed of a nonslip surface and be a distinctive pattern and color to facilitate promoting a clear path of access.

UC Practice

Emergency eyewash facilities and safety showers shall be in unobstructed and accessible locations that require no more than 10 seconds for the injured person to reach along an unobstructed pathway. If both eyewash and shower are needed, they shall be located so that each can be used at the same time by one person.

A travel distance of 55 feet in 10 seconds is cited by ANSI as the distance covered by an individual walking at a normal pace. Consideration should be given to the impaired abilities of the injured victim and the availability of others in the immediate area to assist. There should be no doors in the path of travel; however, if there are doors, there should be no more than one, and it shall swing in the direction of travel.

8 CCR 5162(c)

ANSI Z358.1Appendix B5

Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, Section 6.F.2.5

No obstructions, protrusions, or sharp objects shall be located within 16 inches from the center of the spray pattern of the emergency shower facility (i.e., a 32-inch clearance zone). Clear floor space requirements 48" x 30".

8 CCR 5162(c)

ANSI Z358.1 4.5.7 (3)

Personnel shall remove contaminated clothing while using a safety shower; if not, the corrosive/toxic material in the clothing will continue to act. Removing contaminated clothing without using a safety shower has caused skin burns after the original splashed chemical had been removed. Employees will resist removing contaminated clothing if they are in visible areas, so opaque modesty screens are needed. The screen can be stowed in a folded condition and deployed as needed, just like any shower curtain.

UC Practice

Proper installation and operation of the equipment, within the specifications of the ANSI Z358.1 standard and the requirements of this section, shall be demonstrated prior to project closeout and facility occupation. Tags to allow periodic testing records to be kept shall be affixed to the showers and eyewash fountains. A commissioning checklist such as that included in Appendix C should be used to document proper equipment installation and operation.

Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, Section 6.F.2.6

ANSI Z358.1 5.5.1

8 CCR 5162 (e)

All emergency eyewash and safety shower equipment shall meet the requirements of 8 CCR 5162 and ANSI Z358.1.

The most versatile and complete emergency rinsing facility would include a combination unit with an emergency eye/face wash, a safety shower, and a drench hose. See Appendix D [1] for an illustration of an emergency eyewash safety shower combination unit, installed within the heights listed.

8 CCR 5162

29 CFR 1910.151(c)

OHSA interpretation letter dated 09/30/94

ANSI Z358.1