1.  Provisions for Emergency Eyewashes

Emergency plumbed eyewash or eye/facewash equipment shall be provided for all work areas where, during routine operations or foreseeable emergencies, the eyes of an employee may come into contact with a substance which can cause corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage or is toxic by absorption (see box below). A plumbed eyewash shall be provided at all work areas where formaldehyde solutions in concentrations greater than or equal to 0.1% are handled.

  • T8 CCR, Section 5162(a)
  • T8 CCR, Section 5217(i)(3)
EH&S considers the following to be substances which can cause corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage, or which are toxic by absorption:

a.  Substances classified by the manufacturer or distributor according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as Category 1 (serious eye damage) or Category 2A (irritant) eye hazards.

b.  Substances identified by the manufacturer or distributor as causing corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage to the eyes.

c.  Substances designated by “S” in the skin notation column of Table AC-1 of T8 CCR Section 5155.

d.  Substances identified by the manufacturer or distributor as toxic by skin absorption.

This consideration is based on T8 CCR, Section 5162; OSHA Hazard Classification Guidance for Manufacturers, Importers, and Employers; and T8 CCR, Section 5155.

2.  Provisions for Emergency Showers

A plumbed emergency shower shall be provided for all work areas where, during normal operations or foreseeable emergencies, areas of the body may come into contact with a substance which is corrosive or severely irritating to the skin or which is toxic by skin absorption (see box below). A plumbed emergency shower shall be provided at all work areas where formaldehyde solutions in concentrations greater than or equal to 1% are handled.

  • T8 CCR, Section 5162(b)
  • T8 CCR, Section 5217(i)(2)
EH&S considers the following to be substances which are corrosive or severely irritating to the skin or which are toxic by skin absorption:

a.  Substances classified by the manufacturer or distributor according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as Category 1 (skin corrosion) or Category 2 (skin irritation) skin hazards.

b.  Substances identified by the manufacturer or distributor as corrosive or severely irritating to the skin.
c. Substances designated by “S” in the skin notation column of Table AC-1 of T8 CCR Section 5155.
d.  Substances identified by the manufacturer or distributor as toxic by skin absorption.

This consideration is based on T8 CCR, Section 5162; OSHA Hazard Classification Guidance for Manufacturers, Importers, and Employers; and T8 CCR, Section 5155.

3.  Stanford EH&S presumes that laboratory fume hoods contain hazardous substances that require emergency eyewash and shower facilities.

4.  Laboratories and laboratory support facilities using and handling hazardous substances will generally require eyewash and safety showers. Biological laboratories using bleach and other chemical disinfectants will generally require eyewash and safety showers. Consult with EH&S for any exceptions or if an evaluation is needed.

5.  For new construction and major renovations, careful consideration should be given to not only current, but also future use of the laboratory as research needs change. Without an emergency eyewash and safety shower, future use of hazardous materials in the space will be restricted or require potentially costly retrofitting.