General Safety Program
Eyewashes/Safety Showers

Environment, Health and Safety Department, 30 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53715-1227
Phone 265-5000, Fax 262-6767

Emergency Eyewash/Quick Drench Showers Code

Like fume hoods and bunsen burners, eyewashes/safety showers are an important part to any laboratory. These devices can help save a life in the event of gross chemical contamination. You should have a functioning eyewash and safety shower within 10 seconds clear travel of your workspace. Like fume hoods, safety showers should be inspected annually by the Environment, Health and Safety Department. If yours have not been inspected within the last year, contact the Environment, Health and Safety Department at 265-5000 to have them inspected. 

• If you are exposed to chemicals and need to use an eyewash/safety shower, you should flush the affected area for at least fifteen minutes to completely remove the chemical. Be sure to contact a physician if the situation warrants.
  
• Eyewashes should be checked weekly by laboratory personnel to ensure water flow and quality. This helps clean out any rust, scale deposits, or bacteria that may accumulate.
  
• The area around the safety equipment should always be free of clutter. It's impossible to get to a cluttered eyewash when your eyes are full of acid.
  
• The shower pull should be kept at a height that can be reached by all people in the laboratory.
  
• Eyewash nozzles should be protected by plastic end caps. These should be loose enough to be removed by the flow of water, but secure enough to prevent contamination from dust and chemicals.
  
• Portable squeeze bottles are not acceptable as eyewash units.
  
• Eyewashes and safety showers should never be substituted for use of personal protective equipment (glasses, goggles, gloves, aprons, etc.) 
  

Emergency Eyewash/Quick Drench Showers

Wisconsin Administrative Code Comm 32.30 states:

Whenever the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to materials that are corrosive or can cause irreversible eye or bodily injury, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.

Note: The (Commerce) department will accept facilities that comply with ANSI standard z358.1-1998 Eyewash and Shower Equipment.

Environment, Health and Safety Department's Eyewash/Shower Maintenance and Services:

Environment, Health and Safety Department performs annual flushing and inspection of 700 emergency eyewash/quick drench shower stations in Campus buildings. There is no charge to your Department or facility for this service. Upon completion, a dated white tag is attached to the unit documenting this service and our database is updated.

On occasion, plumbing related issues are discovered and we submit these to the Service Building Plumbing Shop for corrective action(s). When service is needed a 'red repair tag' will be in place until completed. Repairs are also completed without charge. If you know the location of an untagged eyewash/shower or if a 'red repair tag' is in place for an inordinate length of time, please contact Dale Kidd at 265-0693.