PDFWAC 296-307-03930
Make sure emergency washing facilities are functional and readily accessible.
(1) The employer must provide an emergency shower:
(a) When there is potential for major portions of an employee's body to contact corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals.
(b) That delivers water to cascade over the user's entire body at a minimum rate of 20 gallons (75 liters) per minute for fifteen minutes or more.
(2) The employer must provide an emergency eyewash:
(a) When there is potential for an employee's eyes to be exposed to corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals.
(b) That irrigates and flushes both eyes simultaneously while the user holds their eyes open.
(c) With an on-off valve that activates in one second or less and remains on without user assistance until intentionally turned off.
(d) That delivers at least 0.4 gallons (1.5 liters) of water per minute for fifteen minutes or more.
Note: | Chemicals that require emergency washing facilities: |
1. The employer can determine whether chemicals in the workplace require emergency washing facilities by looking at the material safety data sheet (MSDS) or similar documents. The MSDS contains information about first-aid requirements and emergency flushing of skin or eyes. | |
2. For chemicals developed in the workplace, the following resources provide information about first-aid requirements: | |
a. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards; | |
b. *DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-140; | |
c. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg; | |
d. Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). |
(3) The employer must make sure emergency washing facilities:
(a) Are located so that it takes no more than ten seconds to reach;
(b) Are kept free of obstacles blocking their use;
(c) Function correctly; and
(d) Provide the quality and quantity of water that is satisfactory for emergency washing purposes.
Notes: | 1. If water in emergency washing facilities is allowed to freeze, they will not function correctly. Precautions need to be taken to prevent this from happening. |
2. The travel distance to an emergency washing facility should be no more than fifty feet (15.25 meters). | |
3. For further information on the design, installation, and maintenance of emergency washing facilities, see American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publication Z358.1 - 1998, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. Emergency washing facilities that are designed to meet ANSI Z358.1 - 1998 also meet the requirements of this standard. The ANSI standard can be obtained from the American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018. |
Reference: | Training in the location and use of the employer's emergency washing facilities is required under the employer chemical hazard communication rule, WAC 296-307-550, and the accident prevention program rule, WAC 296-307-030. |