The Rise of Portable Eyewash Stations

When and why to opt for portable eyewash solutions; the role of the portable eyewash station in dynamic workplace challenges; and real-world scenarios where portable eyewash stations helped.

• By Herbert Post
• Mar 01, 2024

The rise of portable eyewash stations marks a significant evolution in safety equipment. Designed for the dynamic and varied environments of modern industries, these portable units are an answer to the limitations of traditional, fixed eyewash stations. They represent a shift towards adaptable and responsive safety solutions, meeting the needs of a workforce facing constantly changing and often unpredictable work conditions. This trend reflects a deeper dedication to ensuring every industrial workspace is equipped to handle eye safety emergencies effectively.

When and Why to Opt for Portable Eyewash Stations

As we turn our focus to portable eyewash stations, it’s essential to understand the scenarios where they become not just an option, but a necessity. These units are particularly crucial in specific workplace environments where traditional solutions may fall short.

Remote or Isolated Work Areas: In locations distant from central facilities, fixed eyewash stations are often impractical. Portable units provide a vital safety resource, ensuring immediate eye irrigation, no matter how remote the site is.

• Temporary Work Sites: For projects with a limited duration, such as construction or short-term manufacturing, installing fixed stations is not feasible. Portable eyewash stations offer a flexible, cost-effective solution for these temporary environments.

• Fluctuating Hazard Locations: In facilities where hazardous materials or processes change locations frequently, fixed eyewash stations cannot always cover every risk area. Portable stations can be relocated easily, offering protection that adapts to evolving work conditions.

• Space-Constrained Areas: In smaller facilities or crowded workspaces, installing fixed stations might be challenging due to space limitations. Portable eyewash stations, with their compact design, provide an efficient solution without sacrificing safety.

The versatility of portable eyewash stations extends beyond specific scenarios, offering significant advantages in any dynamic work environment such as:

• Increased Accessibility: Portable units can be positioned closer to high-risk areas, reducing the time it takes for an affected worker to reach eye-washing facilities, which is crucial during emergencies.

• Enhanced Flexibility: These stations can be quickly and easily moved to new locations as the layout or nature of the work changes, ensuring continuous eye safety coverage.

• Reduced Installation and Maintenance Costs: Portable eyewash stations eliminate the need for complex plumbing installations and are typically simpler to maintain than fixed units.

• Readiness for Emergencies: In the event of an unforeseen hazard or accident, having a portable eyewash station readily available can be the difference between a minor incident and a serious injury, ensuring immediate response to eye emergencies.

Portable eyewash stations are essential in dynamic industrial environments, adapting to the unique safety challenges and varied layouts of modern workplaces. Their design and mobility are crucial in spaces like multi-purpose facilities or renovation areas, where fixed stations are impractical, ensuring consistent access to eyewash facilities despite frequent changes in workspace layouts. Additionally, in temporary or project-based sites such as construction areas or temporary labs, portable eyewash stations provide vital safety measures. Their ease of relocation and setup matches the rapidly changing nature of these work environments, enhancing safety and fostering a culture of preparedness and responsiveness among workers in these transient settings.

How Portable Eyewash Stations Meet OSHA and ANSI Standards

Understanding the compliance of portable eyewash stations with safety regulations involves aligning with both OSHA and ANSI standards. OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c) requires quick drenching or flushing facilities in workplaces with potential eye hazards, while ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 offers detailed guidelines on the performance and installation of emergency eyewash and shower equipment. Portable eyewash stations meet these standards by providing immediate accessibility and readiness for emergency use, often featuring hands-free operation. These units are designed to ensure a continuous flow of clean water or eyewash solution for a minimum of 15 minutes, adhering to ANSI’s requirements and enhancing workplace safety.

To maintain compliance with these regulations, several considerations are essential for portable eyewash units:

1. Accessibility: Stations should be no more than 10 seconds or 55 feet away from hazardous locations, ensuring quick access during emergencies.

2. Clear Signage: Visible signs are crucial for rapidly locating the eyewash station in a crisis.

3. Water Quality and Duration: The units must provide an adequate supply of clean water or eyewash solution, in line with ANSI’s 15-minute flushing requirement.

4. Nozzle Design and Height: Complying with ANSI’s guidelines, nozzles should be positioned at an appropriate height, between 33 and 53 inches, and designed to prevent further injury.

5. Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Consistent checks ensure the stations are functional, clean, and ready for emergency use, a key component of both OSHA and ANSI standards.

Where Portable Eyewash Stations Could Have Helped

The increase in OSHA penalties has emphasized the need for compliance with workplace safety regulations, including the provision of emergency eyewash and shower equipment as per the ANSI Z358.1 Standard. Let’s examine a few real-world scenarios where non-compliance with these standards led to significant OSHA citations and how portable eyewash stations could have played a crucial role in preventing these violations.

Food Manufacturing Facility: This facility was fined for not having an emergency shower or eyewash stations near the area where forklift batteries were charged. With the lack of such safety equipment on both the shipping and receiving docks, the facility faced a proposed penalty of $4,000, which would increase significantly under the new penalty structure. A portable eyewash station in these areas could have offered an immediate solution for eye and skin exposure to corrosive materials from battery acid, thereby aiding in compliance and enhancing worker safety.

Logistics Facility: This facility was cited for exposing employees to corrosive anhydrous ammonia in the engine room without access to a functioning emergency safety shower. The initial fine was $6,000, which would escalate with the new penalty rates. Portable eyewash stations, strategically placed near the engine room, could have provided an immediate emergency response for employees, potentially avoiding this citation.

Nursery & Garden Center: Initially cited for exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals, the facility failed to remedy the situation by the time of a re-inspection. The penalty, originally set at $25,000, would now exceed $40,000. The availability of portable eyewash stations could have offered a quick and effective response to chemical exposures, demonstrating the facility’s commitment to rectifying the previously cited issue.

In these cases, the lack of adequate emergency response equipment led to substantial fines. Portable eyewash stations could have been a cost-effective and flexible solution to meet the required safety standards. They underscore the importance of assessing workplace hazards and ensuring that suitable emergency response equipment is accessible, especially in industries not typically associated with high-risk chemicals.

Future Portable Eyewash Trends and Innovations

The future of portable eyewash technology is shaping up to be an exciting blend of innovation and improved functionality. As we move forward, we can expect to see advancements in materials and design, making units even more durable and suitable for a variety of harsh environments. Technological integration is likely to play a key role, with features such as automated alerts for maintenance and usage tracking becoming standard. 

Additionally, there’s a potential for the development of more compact and efficient systems, enhancing portability without compromising performance. We’re also likely to see a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability, with advancements in water conservation and recyclable materials. These innovations will further solidify the role of portable eyewash stations as an essential component of workplace safety.

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.