Your Playbook For Eyewash Readiness
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First Aid Supplies
- First Aid Cabinets
- First Aid Kits
- American Diabetes Association
- ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 Updates
- Fleet Replenishment
- Bleeding Control Kits and Products
- Name Brand Products
- Bandages
- Tapes and Gauze
- Burn Care
- First Aid Instruments
- Antiseptics and Ointments
- Blood Clotting Agents
- Hand Sanitizer
- Skin Care Solutions
- Naloxone Opioid Overdose Kit
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Safety & PPE Supplies
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AEDs & Emergency
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Office Water Cooler
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Eyewash Stations
- Training & Compliance
Go-To Resources To Increase Your Eyewash Knowledge
When an eye emergency strikes at your facility, every second matters - and preparation starts long before the moment you need to act. This Eyewash Information & Resources hub brings together essential knowledge to help you stay confident, compliant and prepared.
Maintenance For Lasting Safety
Choosing Cintas for your self-contained and plumbed eyewash station service and emergency shower inspection means regular maintenance visits and thorough scanning for your records. This partnership ensures your stations are prepared to deliver emergency relief when needed.
Detailed Service Every Time
Thousands of workers suffer serious eye injuries annually, underscoring the importance of reliable emergency eyewash units. Cintas provides regular maintenance, including cleaning and testing, so your unit is always ready.
Immediate Response To Help Save Your Sight
Chemical splashes and spills can happen unexpectedly, risking your vision and health. Take the right actions and use eyewash stations correctly, including a 15-minute eye flush, to reduce lasting damage.
Eyewash FAQs
- Where corrosive chemicals are used (29 CFR 1910.151). 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. See OSHA infosheet.
- OSHA requires eyewash stations “where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.”
- This includes:
- Battery charging areas (e.g., forklift batteries with sulfuric acid)
- Chemical-handling stations
- Laboratories
- Medical facilities
- Manufacturing environments with corrosive or toxic substances
- This includes:
- When Safety Data Sheets (SDS) indicate the need for emergency eyewash, a primary station is required. Reference Section 4 of any chemical’s SDS to determine if you need an eyewash station.
- Where strong acids or caustics are being handled, emergency eyewash units should be located adjacent to the hazardous materials.
- Area should be well lit with proper signage. See Guardian study.
- ANSI standard states units must be accessible within 10 seconds. “Be in accessible locations that require no more than 10 seconds to reach. The eyewash shall be located on the same level as the hazard and the path of travel shall be free of obstructions that may inhibit its immediate use.”
- OSHA requires that “suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use” when employees may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials (29 CFR 1910.151(c)). The ANSI Z358.1-2014 (R2020) standard provides detailed guidance on the design, installation, performance, and maintenance of emergency eyewash and shower equipment. OSHA frequently refers to this standard during inspections and citations. Visit OSHA and ANSI for more information.
- 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. See OSHA infosheet.
- ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 (R2020) explicitly states that eyewash stations must deliver flushing fluid for a minimum of 15 minutes. Review the ISEA use guide for more information, and see page 2 for the 15-minute standard.
- Self‑contained stations are filled with water and a preservative and do not require a direct water connection. They are designed to go almost anywhere, even when plumbing is not available.
- Plumbed eyewash stations are permanently connected to a building’s water supply, providing a continuous flow of clean water for emergency eye flushing. They are ideal for fixed work environments with higher chemical or debris risks, as they are always ready for use and require less-frequent manual maintenance. Review the ISEA use guide for more information and visual examples.
- No. Personal wash units are not replacements for ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 (R2020) compliant emergency eyewashes and showers, but supplement their use. Frequently, personal wash equipment is closer to the injured person and can provide treatment until the injured person can be moved to the location of primary equipment. Personal wash equipment may be ideal for the following situations:
- As a first response, in which immediate rinsing is needed before a person can get to the primary device.
- When a person is enroute to a medical facility after using primary equipment.
- In accident response in areas where primary equipment does not exist, such as an outdoor worksite. See ISEA use guide for details.
Eye-Safety Risks And Requirements
Eyewash stations are essential in workplaces with hazardous materials. Our featured story highlights workplace injury statistics, safety standards, equipment options and installation requirements.
How An Emergency Eyewash & Shower Station Service Works
Our Eyewash Products
PLUMBED EYEWASH STATION
- Scan of each station for an electronic service record
- Service inspection is performed - routine or annual inspection
- Cintas professional dates the service tag to verify service