Oregon OSHA

FACT SHEET

Eyewash and Safety Showers

General Requirements
OAR 437 OAR 437-002-0161, Medical and First Aid, and OAR 437-004-1305, Medical Services and First Aid
Division 2/K requires the following amenities where employees handle substances that could injure their eyes or get
Division 4/K onto their bodies. Eyewash stations or showers (or both) must be provided based on the hazard.
• An unobstructed path; eyewash or shower
accessible within 10 seconds.
• Installation meets manufacturer’s requirements
including criteria for water pressure, flow rate,
and system testing.
• Water must flow for at least 15 minutes. Valves
must remain open without the use of hands.
• Eyewash or shower stations must be clean,
sanitary, and operating correctly; expired
solutions must not be used in self-contained
systems.

Hazard Assessment
An eyewash or safety shower is considered
osha.oregon.gov a first-aid measure rather than a preventative
one. A hazard assessment determines the
hazards associated with a chemical and which Training
Salem Central Office
first-aid measures are to be used in the event
350 Winter St. NE, Rm. 430 Evaluate training requirements based on
of an emergency. Factors to be evaluated in a
Salem, OR 97301-3882 hazard communication, safety data sheets,
hazard assessment:
and the measures employees can take to
Phone: 503-378-3272 Chemical properties protect themselves, including personal
Toll-free: 800-922-2689 The physical state, concentration, pH (acids with protective equipment.
Fax: 503-947-7461 a pH less than 2.5 and alkalis with a pH greater Worksite conditions
than 11.0 require immediate flushing to prevent
damage), temperature, etc. Indoor or outdoor sites, protection from freezing
conditions, fixed or non-fixed locations, and
Chemical-use patterns facility layout.
How employees work with chemicals during Equipment
handling, transfer, use, or disposal, including
frequency and duration of use, and quantity Availability of eyewash and body-flush equipment
of chemicals. and water sources.
Eyewash and Safety Showers – continued

Equipment
Plumbed units are preferred where a clean Safety showers Solution/squeeze
water source is readily available. Self- A shower is required at fixed bottles
contained units are effective where a water work areas or stations when Chemical or isotonic
source is not readily available. Both must substantial areas of the worker’s solutions used as
meet the general requirements. body may be exposed to large substitutes for water
quantities of materials that are must be appropriate
Eyewashes highly corrosive or highly toxic by for the hazard, properly
Units must be provided in fixed work areas or skin absorption. tested and maintained
stations when a hazard assessment or any and replaced prior to
other information indicates that an employee Hand-held drench hoses the expiration date. They cannot be used as a
may reasonably be exposed to a substance A single-headed emergency washing device sole means of protection nor a substitute for
that can cause corrosion or permanent tissue connected to flexible hoses and used to irrigate plumbed or self-contained equipment.
damage to the eyes. and flush the face or other parts of the body.

Location of Eyewash or Specific Requirements

Shower Eyewash and safety showers for electric
Generally, the distance from the worker’s storage battery charging, chlorine,
location to the device should not anhydrous ammonia, and pesticides
exceed 10 seconds walking distance. are addressed in an OSHA Program
The determinant factor is immediate Directive, A-63, Eyewash and
eye irrigation within 10 seconds. The Safety Showers.
path must be unobstructed and cannot Other Oregon OSHA rules may have
require opening doors or passing through specific requirements other than
obstacles unless other employees are those listed under Division 2/K,
always present to help the exposed OAR 437-002-0161 and Division 4/K,
employee. Locating the eyewash or OAR 437-004-1305. If the chemical
shower outside the immediate source of manufacturer requires specific
exposure, where gases or highly volatile decontaminates or procedures, you
substances (e.g. anhydrous ammonia) must provide them in addition to the
are present, may be necessary. eyewash or shower.
Design Specifications for Temperature Training
Eyewash or Shower Water should be tepid. Temperature extremes Employee must be trained on the
can pose a health hazard to the employee. hazards associated with the material,
Valve operation Elevated water temperatures may the location of the eyewash or shower
Valves should be simple to use, activate accelerate adverse chemical reactions. facilities, and the proper procedure for
within one second, and have a valve actuator flushing the eyes and skin. See
that is large enough to be easily located and Water quality OAR 437-001-0760 (1)(d), Rules for all
operated. The valves must stay open and Only potable water should be used for Workpaces. For agricultural employers,
operate hands-free to allow an individual to eyewash and shower facilities. Improperly see OAR 437-004-0099 (2)(f).
use both hands to hold their eyes open or maintained plumbed or self-contained units
remove clothing. can contaminate water reservoirs. Identifying the Units
The eyewash and safety shower facilities
Water pressure and volume Testing should be identified with a highly visible
In general, water pressure for plumbed All eyewash and shower facilities must sign. The area around the facility should be
eyewash should provide a water flow of at be adequately maintained and should be well lit so that the units are highly visible.
least 0.4 gallons per minute for 15 minutes. activated weekly to flush the supply and
Self-contained eyewash units should meet line and to verify proper operations.
the same flow-rate provision. Safety showers Self-contained units should be maintained
(plumbed and self-contained) should provide in accordance with the manufacturer’s
a flow rate of at least 20 gallons per minute instructions. Particular attention must be
with a minimum of 15 minutes under all given to flushing fluid and availability.
operating conditions.
OR-OSHA (Rev 12/15) FS-02

The Standards and Technical Resources Section of Oregon OSHA produced this fact sheet to highlight our programs, policies, or standards. The
information is from the field staff, research by the technical resources staff, and published materials.  We urge readers to consult the actual
rules as this fact sheet information is not as detailed.