If a chemical gets in someone's eyes or on their skin, flushing it off with water straight away can prevent serious, lasting injury. Here's how to decide what you need.

Do I Need Them?

There's no law that names eyewash stations or emergency showers. Whether you need them comes from your risk assessments – especially your COSHH assessment (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health).

Employers must assess the risks from hazardous substances, plan for accidents and emergencies, and provide suitable first aid. This applies across the UK, under the COSHH and first aid regulations in Great Britain and their Northern Ireland equivalents.

You're likely to need eye wash or a safety shower where people work with:

  • acids, alkalis and corrosive cleaning chemicals,
  • laboratory chemicals,
  • battery acid, for example in forklift charging areas,
  • dusts or fluids that could get into the eyes.

Types of Equipment

  • Eyewash bottles and stations – sealed bottles of sterile eyewash, often in a wall-mounted station. Good for first aid where there's no clean tap nearby.
  • Plumbed eyewash units – connected to the water supply, giving a continuous flow for both eyes.
  • Emergency (safety) showers – for chemical splashes to the body. Plumbed or self-contained tank versions are available.

The European standard BS EN 15154 covers emergency showers and eyewash units, both plumbed and non-plumbed. You may also see the American standard ANSI Z358.1 mentioned – it's good practice but not UK law.

Where There's No Tap

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that where mains tap water isn't readily available, you should provide at least 1 litre of sterile water or sterile saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers. Once opened, don't reuse them, and don't use them past their expiry date.

How Long to Rinse

The NHS advises rinsing a chemical out of the eye with clean water for at least 20 minutes, and then going to A&E – or calling 999 for a strong chemical. One small bottle won't last that long, so it's a first step while you get to running water or medical help.

Placement

  • Position equipment close to the hazard, so it can be reached within seconds.
  • Keep the route clear, and mark it with a safety sign. See Which Fire Safety Signs Do I Need?.
  • Showers and plumbed eyewash should deliver lukewarm water – very cold water discourages people from rinsing for long enough.

Checks and Maintenance

  • Check bottles regularly: seals intact and in date. Replace any that have been opened.
  • Run plumbed units and showers regularly to check they work and to flush the pipes – weekly is common practice.
  • Include showers and eyewash units in your legionella risk assessment. The HSE lists them as a possible source of Legionella bacteria.
  • Record your checks.

Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods

Under the ADR rules for carrying dangerous goods by road, vehicles must carry eye rinsing liquid for most classes of goods. The main exceptions are explosives and gases (danger labels 1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3). Check with your Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser.

More information: HSE – COSHH accidents and emergencies, HSE first aid FAQs and NHS – eye injuries. See also Choosing a Workplace First Aid Kit.

Worth remembering… your fire risk assessment is what decides what your premises need. This guide is general advice, not a substitute for it.

Not sure what you need? Get in touch with our team – we'll be delighted to help. No pressure. No sales patter.