There are times when the use of emergency eyewash and shower equipment becomes crucial in the workplace. In instances where employees are exposed to injurious corrosive materials, OSHA requires at 29 CFR 1910.151(c) that employers provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body within the immediate work area. OSHA provides no additional requirements, and as a result, employers often ask whether or not emergency eyewashes or showers are necessary at their facility.
OSHA says in an April 14, 2008 Letter of Interpretation (LOI) that “…the employer must determine if employees can or will be exposed during the course of their duties to hazardous materials in such a way that the protections of an eyewash or emergency shower would be necessary.” Essentially, OSHA expects the employer to determine the level of potential risk to employees and provide protection accordingly. What protection is appropriate should be based on a hazard assessment and exposure determination.