Eyewash station compliance is measured in seconds and minutes — — 10 seconds to reach the station, 15 minutes of flushing fluid — and this free ANSI Z358.1 checker walks placement, flow and testing. Stocked units live on eyewash stations.
What does eyewash station compliance actually require?
Short answer: a plumbed or gravity station within 10 seconds of the hazard, tepid fluid, 15-minute flow, weekly activation and annual verification — the checker below scores your setup against Z358.1. Bottle eyewash is supplementary only and never substitutes for a plumbed 15-minute station.
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ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 sets the design and maintenance rules for emergency eyewash and safety showers. Check each item to score your station’s compliance — gaps here are among the most common OSHA citations under 1910.151(c).
Eye & face protection
Key Z358.1 numbers
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Reach the station within | 10 seconds (~55 ft), same level, unobstructed |
| Flush duration | 15 minutes continuous, hands-free |
| Tepid water | 60–100°F (16–38°C) |
| Eyewash flow | 0.4 GPM; safety shower 20 GPM |
| Activation test | Plumbed: weekly; full inspection: annually |
FAQ
Why does the water need to be tepid?
Water that is too cold discourages a full 15-minute flush; too hot can scald or accelerate chemical reactions on the eye. Z358.1 specifies 60–100°F.
Do I need a shower and an eyewash?
It depends on the hazard. Where a chemical can injure both eyes and body, you need both. Combination units are common.
Educational checklist summarizing ANSI/ISEA Z358.1. It does not replace a manufacturer’s installation specs, a plumbing inspection, or your AHJ. OSHA enforces emergency washing under 29 CFR 1910.151(c).
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Built and reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety. We curate and review industrial PPE against ANSI, NIOSH and OSHA standards.
Our methodology
The checker mirrors ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 placement, flow and testing requirements, with the supplementary-only status of bottle eyewash stated plainly throughout. Authoritative duties live at OSHA regulations and exposure science at NIOSH. We hold no safety certification, and this tool is not a substitute for professional judgment.
Why trust this page
WC Safety is an independent review site with no products of its own — nothing here is stocked, warehoused or shipped by us. Purchase links go to Amazon and earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This free tool is informational — it supports, and never replaces, a written program, a hazard assessment, or evaluation by a qualified safety professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close must an eyewash station be?
Within 10 seconds of the hazard on an unobstructed path, on the same level — corrosive work tightens it to immediate adjacency.
Does bottle eyewash satisfy ANSI Z358.1?
No — bottles are supplementary support for the walk to a plumbed 15-minute station, never the station itself.
What is tepid water and why does it matter?
Roughly 60–100°F — cold enough to bear for 15 minutes, warm enough that workers actually complete the flush.
How often must stations be tested?
Weekly activation to clear lines and prove flow, plus annual full verification against the standard.
Fifteen minutes — really?
Yes — chemical injury continues while any residue remains. The clock is the treatment; stations exist to make it endurable.
Who enforces Z358.1?
OSHA cites the underlying first-aid duty (1910.151) using Z358.1 as the reference yardstick — the standard is how compliance is measured in practice.
Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed July 2026.