Annual Testing of Emergency Eyewash/Shower Stations
Are you aware of the testing requirements of emergency eyewash/shower stations? OSHA’s Title 8 §5162(a) requires emergency eyewash/shower stations to comply with the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 standard. For ammonia refrigeration systems, ANSI/IIAR 2-2014 §6.7.3 also requires that emergency eyewash/shower stations meet the requirements of ANSI/ISEA Z358.1. The American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment (ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014) has two (2) prescriptive requirements for maintaining emergency eyewash/shower stations:
- ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 §7.5.2 states: “Plumbed combination units shall be activated weekly for a period long enough to verify operation and ensure that flushing fluid is available.”
- ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 §7.5.5 states: “All combination units shall be inspected annually to assure conformance with Section 7.4 requirements of this standard.”
Resource Compliance has developed the equipment and procedures to verify conformance with the various elements of ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 §7.4:
- accessibility
- location
- positioning
- fluid delivery
- fluid capacity
- water temperature
- valve connections
While facilities are well-equipped to perform the weekly exercise, they may require assistance in performing the annual inspection. Contact Resource Compliance to ensure your emergency eyewash/shower stations comply with ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014.
Where can we obtain an annual printable checklist for Eyewash Station Inspection
Hi Eric,
Here is a pdf you can download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARkqkGRk8nnXtcVOEeJL_iG6Tf5A5Q7X/view?usp=sharing
Let us know if you need anything else!
Very useful – Thank you for making that available.
Can the annual eye wash testing be done in house?
Yes. Testing can be performed in-house or by a 3rd party.
What if the facility where the eyewash station is located is only accessed quarterly (or less)? The eyewash is required due to an external above-ground fuel tank that feeds a generator, but not accessed very often; usually accessed just to provide entry for fuel truck refills. The building is only a 5-foot square cinder block building containing electrical equipment that powers an antenna-tower. The eyewash is a portable type with a disposable eyewash bag containing saline solution that lasts a year (according to the manufacturer). How does required inspections apply in this case?
Your application is a outside of my expertise, but there are not exceptions in ISEA Z358.1 or OSHA standards. Your situation is unique and therefore, it seems reasonable that a modified testing interval be used. However, the most important aspect is that the unit be functional when needed, whether that be today, next week, or ten years from now.
Do the weekly and annually inspections need to be documented and in what format?
Yes. As it is often said, “if it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen.” There is no prescribed documentation format, but you are welcome to copy our template that is available on our blog (https://resourcecompliance.com/2018/10/16/annual-testing-of-emergency-eyewashshower-stations/)