Exposure to hazardous materials or airborne debris is always a serious threat to worker safety and that risk gets compounded in environments where eye injuries are possible. The eye is one of the most sensitive and complex organs in the body, and any damage to it can cause long-term difficulties with daily functioning. Among the common causes of workplace eye injuries are abrasion from foreign particles or exposure to hazardous substances, often as a result of chemical splash. Easily accessible eye wash stations can help mitigate these hazards by allowing your team to respond quickly to splash or abrasion incidents, flushing the injured worker’s eye before long-term damage develops. Below are five ways that emergency eye wash stations can create positive outcomes for your company.

   1. Ensuring Compliance with Safety Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires access to emergency eye wash stations or showers under certain working conditions. 29 CFR 1910.151(c) states that “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.” If your workplace uses corrosive or harmful materials, eye wash is mandated. Failure to provide these facilities could result in a citation from OSHA.

OSHA generally refers to the American National Standards Institute’s ANSI Z538.1 standard for examples of the equipment available and their performance requirements.

   2. Reducing Injuries and Time Lost

In a survey of incidents from 2021-2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has identified 21,920 cases of injury requiring days away from work, restricted activity, or job transfer caused by foreign matter rubbing or abrading a worker’s eye. In the same period, there were an additional 23,830 incidents with the same outcomes resulting from exposure to harmful substances through tissue such as the skin or eyes. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an average of 2,000 eye injuries occur to U.S. workers every day, resulting in over 300,000 lost workdays per year.

   3. Minimizing Legal Liability and Worker’s Comp Claims

Compliance with workplace safety regulations helps to reduce your risk of injury claims and other legal complications. Eye injuries cost $300 million per year in worker’s comp, treatment costs, and lost productivity, according to the BLS. The best way to mitigate these costs is to reduce the occurrence of injuries, which means meeting OSHA standards and mandates as well as adhering to workplace safety best practices.

   4. Improving Response Time When Incidents Occur

A chemical splash injury requires immediate attention, as any prolonged exposure to a caustic or hazardous substance could permanently damage the eye. These injuries require 15-20 minutes of continuous flushing as a first response and having an eye wash station available means that treatment can begin immediately, potentially saving a worker from irreparable damage.

   5. Improving Team Confidence and Productivity

Safety practices reduce lost working hours by helping to prevent incidents or minimizing their impact, but they also improve productivity in subtler, less visible ways. Workers that feel safe and secure in their work environment have higher job satisfaction rates, which reduces absenteeism and turnover. Having visible, accessible safety protocols and equipment like eye wash stations assures your team that they’re valued.