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Eyewash station inspection checklist

ANSI Z358.1 asks for plumbed eyewash stations to be activated every week, so the water is there and the line is flushed when someone needs it. A minute per station.

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Weekly check

  1. Activated until the water ran clear
  2. Flow reaches both eyes at a comfortable pressure
  3. Dust caps in place, nozzles clean
  4. Water tepid (60-100 F / 16-38 C)
  5. Reachable within 10 seconds, path unobstructed
  6. Sign visible

Print this as a log sheet

Why weekly

ANSI Z358.1 calls for plumbed eyewash equipment to be activated weekly, to verify that flushing fluid reaches the heads and to clear sediment and bacteria from the line. Self-contained units are checked against their maker's instructions: fluid level and expiration. A full inspection against the standard is due once a year.

Where OSHA comes in

OSHA 1910.151(c) requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes where people may be exposed to corrosive materials. ANSI Z358.1 is the standard most employers and inspectors use to judge what suitable means.

The numbers to remember

  • Reachable within 10 seconds of the hazard, on the same level, path unobstructed.
  • Tepid water: 60-100 F (16-38 C).
  • Designed for a 15-minute continuous flush.

Questions

How often should an eyewash station be inspected?

Activate plumbed units weekly and inspect every unit fully once a year, per ANSI Z358.1.

How long should the weekly activation run?

Long enough to verify the flow and clear the line, usually until the water runs clear.

A plain-language summary, not a substitute for the standard. Your local authority having jurisdiction has the final word.