Section 296-800-15030. Make sure emergency washing facilities are functional and readily accessible.  


Latest version.
  • You must:
    • Provide an emergency shower:
    – When there is potential for major portions of an employee's body to contact corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals.
    – That delivers water to cascade over the user's entire body at a minimum rate of 20 gallons (75 liters) per minute for fifteen minutes or more.
    • Provide an emergency eyewash:
    – When there is potential for an employee's eyes to be exposed to corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals.
    – That irrigates and flushes both eyes simultaneously while the user holds their eyes open.
    – With an on-off valve that activates in one second or less and remains on without user assistance until intentionally turned off.
    – That delivers at least 0.4 gallons (1.5 liters) of water per minute for fifteen minutes or more.
    Note:
    Chemicals that require emergency washing facilities:
     
    • You can determine whether chemicals in your workplace require emergency washing facilities by looking at the safety data sheet (SDS) or similar documents. The SDS contains information about first-aid requirements and emergency flushing of skin or eyes.
     
    • For chemicals developed in the workplace, the following resources provide information about first-aid requirements:
     
    – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
     
    *DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-140
     
    *http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/ggdstart.html
     
    – Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
    You must:
    • Make sure emergency washing facilities:
    – Are located so that it takes no more than ten seconds to reach.
    – Are kept free of obstacles blocking their use.
    – Function correctly.
    – Provide the quality and quantity of water that is satisfactory for emergency washing purposes.
    Note:
    • If water in emergency washing facilities is allowed to freeze, they will not function correctly. Precautions need to be taken to prevent this from happening.
     
    • The travel distance to an emergency washing facility should be no more than fifty feet (15.25 meters).
     
    • For further information on the design, installation, and maintenance of emergency washing facilities, see American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publication Z358.1 - 1998, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. Emergency washing facilities that are designed to meet ANSI Z358.1 - 1998 also meet the requirements of this standard. The ANSI standard can be obtained from the American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
    Reference:
    • Training in the location and use of your emergency washing facilities is required under the hazard communication rule, WAC 296-901-140, and the accident prevention program rule, WAC 296-800-140.
     
    • All emergency washing facilities using "not fit for drinking" (nonpotable) water must have signs stating the water is "not fit for drinking." See WAC 296-800-23010.
    [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910 Subpart Z. WSR 14-07-086, § 296-800-15030, filed 3/18/14, effective 5/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-16-047, § 296-800-15030, filed 8/1/02, effective 10/1/02.]
RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910 Subpart Z. WSR 14-07-086, § 296-800-15030, filed 3/18/14, effective 5/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-16-047, § 296-800-15030, filed 8/1/02, effective 10/1/02.

Rules

296-901-140,296-800-140,296-800-23010,