Hand held eyewash squeeze bottles are very handy but do not meet ANSI Standard Z358.1-2004.

How can you tell if you need an eyewash station in your place of business?  Look at your MSDS sheets and if it indicates the need for an emergency eyewash station or a 15 minute flush, one is required for your place of business.  If your MSDS sheets doesn’t specifically require an emergency eyewash station or 15 minute flush than one is not required.

Open up your companies MSDS book and look for “First Aid” under first aid you will see Eyes / Skin.  If you see "immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids" or "immediately flush affected skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes" you will need an eyewash station.  The key words are 15 minutes.

If you need an emergency eyewash station:

1) Must be able to flush both eyes at the same time.
2) 1.5 litters per minute for 15 minutes.  (1.5 liters = 0.4 gallons)
3) Constant flow is required
4) Hands free
5) An injured worker must be able to turn the emergency eyewash station on within one second or less
6) Eyewash station needs to be placed within 10 seconds of an eye hazard
7) Eyewash stations must be placed on the same level of the potential hazard
8) For strong acid or caustic chemicals an emergency eyewash station must be immediately adjacent to the potential hazard
9) Water needs to be a tepid buffered saline solution.  A preservative is important to keep the water as clean as possible.
10) A highly visible sign must identify the eyewash station


If you have any questions please call 866.362.2691 or e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit us at www.westernfirstaid.com