What Eyewash Station Do I Need?
Short answer: Choose an eyewash station by the chemical hazard and where the work happens. The main types are plumbed units, self-contained or gravity-fed portable stations, and combination shower and eyewash units. In Canada, ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 (R2020) is generally used as a guide and calls for a 15-minute flushing supply.
The first seconds after a chemical reaches the eyes or skin matter. Emergency eyewash stations and showers let a worker start flushing immediately, as a backup to other controls. CCOHS explains that Canada has no national design standard for this equipment, so the U.S. standard ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 (R2020) is generally used as a guide. This article covers how the main types differ, what a 15-minute flushing supply means, and what to check for placement and maintenance.
Plumbed, portable and combination units
CCOHS groups the equipment by what it can flush and how it is supplied:
- Plumbed eyewash stations are permanently connected to a potable water supply. They are intended to flush the eyes and face. CCOHS, citing ANSI, notes a minimum flow of 1.5 litres per minute (0.4 gallons per minute) for 15 minutes for an eyewash, and a higher flow for an eye/face wash.
- Self-contained or gravity-fed portable stations carry their own flushing fluid. They are used where a permanent water supply is not available, provided the unit can still deliver the required flush duration. They must be kept charged and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Combination shower and eyewash units share a plumbing fixture and can flush the eyes and the body. CCOHS describes a combination unit as the most protective option where the hazard may affect more than the eyes, or where several chemicals with different properties are used.
Personal eyewash bottles can provide immediate flushing while the person is moved to a full station, but CCOHS is clear that they do not replace a station capable of supplying flushing fluid for 15 minutes.
The right type depends on a hazard assessment: the chemicals in use, whether the eyes, face or body may be exposed, and whether the work is at a fixed location or a temporary site. (Source: CCOHS, Emergency Showers and Eyewash Stations)
What a 15-minute flushing supply means
CCOHS states that ANSI Z358.1-2014 (R2020) does not specify how long the affected body part should be rinsed. It does specify that equipment installed according to the standard is capable of providing flushing liquid for a minimum of 15 minutes. The safety data sheet for the hazardous product still guides first aid, and flushing should start immediately after contact.
That distinction matters when you compare units. A gravity-fed or other self-contained station has a limited reservoir, so it has to be specified and maintained so it can actually deliver that supply. A plumbed unit depends on a reliable potable water supply at an acceptable flow and temperature. CCOHS notes that ANSI recommends tepid water, defined as 16 to 38 °C, because water that is too cold or too hot can stop a person from flushing for the needed time.
Placement and access
To be effective, the equipment has to be reachable by someone who may already be injured and may not be able to see clearly. CCOHS, citing ANSI, recommends that a person be able to reach the equipment in 10 seconds. It also records ANSI's note that an average person can walk about 16 to 17 metres (55 feet) in that time, and that the distance may need to be shorter where a highly corrosive chemical is used. Other CCOHS points include: keep the path unobstructed, install the unit on the same floor as the hazard, identify it with a highly visible sign, and do not separate it from the work area by a partition or doorway that would slow access.
Provincial rules can add their own placement wording. In Ontario industrial establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, section 124 requires the employer to provide as many eyewash facilities, emergency showers, and antidotes, flushing fluids or washes as are needed for adequate emergency treatment where a worker may be exposed to a hazardous biological or chemical agent that could injure the eye or skin. That equipment must be clearly marked, located or installed in a conspicuous place near where the agent is kept or used, readily accessible, and have use instructions displayed on or near it.
Do not treat the ANSI 10-second figure as if it were written into every Canadian regulation. Check the rule that applies to your workplace.
Weekly activation and other checks
CCOHS reports that ANSI suggests a weekly activation of plumbed emergency showers and eyewash stations to help make sure flushing fluid is available, clear sediment from the supply line, and reduce microbial contamination from sitting water. It also notes ANSI's recommendation of a complete inspection each year, and says one person should be designated to inspect and operate the equipment, keeping a signed, dated record.
Some jurisdictions set their own test intervals. In British Columbia, section 5.93 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires a plumbed emergency eyewash or shower facility to be full-flow tested at least once per month, for long enough to flush the branch of the water line that supplies the eyewash. (Source: B.C. Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Part 5)
Self-contained units need different care: the fluid has a limited shelf life and must be kept fully charged. Follow the manufacturer's instructions rather than assuming a plumbed-unit schedule applies.
Provincial rules to check
Requirements differ across Canada. Two examples that mention eyewash or emergency washing equipment:
- Ontario: Reg. 851, section 124, described above, applies to industrial establishments and sets duties to provide, mark, locate and label the equipment. It does not itself adopt ANSI Z358.1 or set a 15-minute or weekly-test rule in that section.
- British Columbia: sections 5.85 to 5.95 require appropriate emergency washing facilities where a worker's eyes or skin may be exposed to harmful, corrosive, burning or irritating materials; a risk assessment for equipment selection; unobstructed access; signs; and, for plumbed units, the monthly full-flow test in section 5.93. Portable self-contained units at transient worksites must be capable of a minimum 15-minute flush duration where there is a high or moderate risk of injury to the eyes or skin (section 5.90).
CCOHS advises consulting the occupational health and safety agency and legislation for your jurisdiction. This article is a practical guide, not a site-specific compliance assessment.
Keyline Safety's stand
Pick the eyewash or shower for the chemical hazard and the place of work, not for convenience alone. The unit has to be able to deliver an adequate flushing supply, it has to be reachable without delay, and it has to be inspected and activated on the schedule that applies to that workplace. A bottle in a cabinet is not a substitute for a station that can keep flushing for the required time.
What Keyline Safety does
Keyline Safety is a PPE and safety supplier in London, Ontario, serving Canadian workplaces since 1968. In our live Eyewash Stations and Emergency Showers collection we currently offer:
- Product: Bradley S19-921 15-minute gravity-fed eyewash station
- Product: Bradley S19-399 waste cart for use with that station
- Collection: Workplace First Aid and AED Supplies
If you need help matching a plumbed, portable or combination unit to a written site requirement, ask Keyline Safety through our safety assistant chat.
Frequently asked questions
What type of eyewash station do I need?
Select the equipment from the chemical hazard and the location of the work. Plumbed units suit a permanent water supply. Gravity-fed or other self-contained stations are used where plumbing is not available. A combination shower and eyewash unit is used where the face or body, not only the eyes, may be exposed.
Does ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 require a 15-minute rinse?
Not exactly. CCOHS explains that ANSI Z358.1-2014 (R2020) requires equipment installed to the standard to be capable of providing flushing fluid for a minimum of 15 minutes. It does not specify how long the affected body part must be rinsed. Follow the product's safety data sheet and start flushing immediately. (Source: CCOHS)
Where should an eyewash station be placed?
CCOHS, citing ANSI, recommends that a person be able to reach the equipment in 10 seconds, on the same level as the hazard and on an unobstructed path. Ontario's industrial regulation requires emergency equipment to be clearly marked, located in a conspicuous place near where the hazardous agent is kept or used, readily accessible, and provided with use instructions. Check the rule that applies to your site. (Sources: CCOHS; Ontario Reg. 851, s. 124)
How often should a plumbed eyewash be activated or tested?
CCOHS notes that ANSI suggests a weekly activation of plumbed units to help confirm flushing fluid is available and to reduce sediment and stagnant water. In British Columbia, plumbed emergency eyewash or shower facilities must be full-flow tested at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and the occupational health and safety rule for your jurisdiction. (Sources: CCOHS; B.C. OHS Regulation, s. 5.93)
