It's Important !
Emergency Shower and Eye Wash
ANSI Z358.1 2009 Compliance
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Be aware of what's required
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NOW UPDATED TO 2009 EDITION
GUIDE to ANSI Z358.1 2009 Compliance
plus Checklist and Safety Survey - On Sale Now !
When specifying emergency shower and eye wash equipment the reference point is the American
National Standard ANSI Z358.1 2009 " Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment ".
For the proper selection, installation and maintenance of emergency shower and eye wash
stations this is the only Standard.
You should review the entire
ANSI Z358.1 2009 Standard in detail.
It's very important to plan ahead, because in an emergency every second counts !
 The standard includes minimum performance, testing, installation,
maintenance and training specifications for equipment and systems used for the emergency
treatment of the eyes or body of a person who has been exposed to injurious materials.
Each section of the Standard addresses how the equipment should perform, as well as the testing procedures to
ensure proper operation, installation, maintenance and training.
ANSI Z358.1 2009 covers plumbed and self-contained emergency showers
and emergency eye wash equipment, eye and face wash equipment, combination units, personal wash units
and hand-held drench hoses. These systems are found in manufacturing facilities, construction sites, laboratories,
medical offices and other workplaces.
There are separate guidelines within the ANSI Standard for eye washes and eye/face washes. An eye wash only
flushes the person's eyes whereas an eye/face wash flushes the person's eyes and face simultaneously.
In addition, although drench hoses are not allowed to replace a drench shower, the 2009 version does allow these
hoses as a replacement for an eye wash or combination eye/face wash as long as the drench hose meets the
appropriate requirements.
Non-Compliance with ANSI Z358.1 2009
Fines and Litigation:
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has specific guidelines, which cover emergency response
equipment including emergency showers and eye
washes. This body has, in the form of operating standards, regulatory safeguards and
procedures.
For example, ANSI Z358.1 2004 revision had a general requirement that flushing
fluid be "tepid" which was a bit vague and which led to individual interpretations of the term.
However, in its 2009 revision of the Standard, ANSI clarified the definition of the word
“tepid” " to be in the range of 60 degrees F to below 100 degrees F. The output flushing fluid must be within that
range immediately at start-up of the equipment and remain there throughout the full 15-minute use cycle. Generally,
temperatures higher than 100 degrees F may cause chemical interactions with the skin and result in further damage.
At 60 degrees F and below hypothermia becomes a concern.
It is important to realise that a very specific requirement is now in place. If
compliance is delayed you may have fines levied by OSHA for non-compliance to ANSI and other standards. It's
possible that these fines could be substantial.
Not only that, it’s also possible that the temperature range requirement could result in a case of negligence in
a lawsuit filed by an injured employee. For example, if the emergency shower water was too cold. The employee may
be unable to stand under the shower for the full required period which resulted in the employee receiving a greater
injury.
When the time comes to choosing
emergency shower and eye wash equipment here are some recommended manufacturers
ANSI Z358.1
ANSI Z358.1 2004
ANSI Z358.1 2009
ANSI Z358.1
compliance
American National Standard ANSI Z358.1 2004 Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment.
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