Inspection

Supervisors must ensure activation for plumbed/unplumbed emergency eyewash and shower equipment will be done weekly to ensure flushing fluid supply at the head of the device and to clear the supply line of any sediment build-up that could prevent fluid from being delivered to the head of the device and minimize microbial contamination due to stagnant water.

Weekly Emergency Shower Flushing

Weekly EyeWash Flushing

Annual Inspections by Plant Operations (ANSI Z358.1-2009)

The duration of the test is dependent on the volume of water contained in the unit itself and all sections of pipework that do not form part of a constant circulation system (also known as “dead leg” portions). Water in these sections is stagnant until a flow is activated by opening a valve.

The goal is to flush out stagnant water in the dead leg completely. Where mixing valves are used, both the hot water and cold water supplies to the valve must be adequate flushing of both hot and cold water supplies.

OSHA Healthcare Connection, August 23, 2005
A: OSHA’s medical services and first aid standard (1910.151) does not address testing. The American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) emergency eyewash and equipment standard does. ANSI says you should

test showers and eyewash stations at least weekly
inspect showers and eyewash stations annually for compliance with ANSI product specifications
OSHA references the ANSI standard, but doesn’t require compliance with it.annual_inspections_eyewash-showers

Maintenance and Training:

Manufacturers shall provide operation, inspection and maintenance instructions with eyewashes. Instructions shall be readily accessible to maintenance and inspection personnel.

• Plumbed eyewashes shall be activated weekly for a period long enough to verify operation and ensure that flushing fluid is available.
• Self-contained eyewashes shall be visually checked weekly to determine if flushing fluid needs to be changed or supplemented. Such inspection shall be conducted in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
• Employees who may be exposed to hazardous materials shall be instructed in the location and proper use of emergency eyewashes.
• All eyewashes shall be inspected annually to assure conformancewith this standard.