Posted By Ian Futcher Maaaaany years ago... I worked in a research lab for herbicides and insecticides, and we removed "eyewash sinks" because we thought they were liable to fill up with "stuff" (can be replaced with something a little more Anglo-Saxon if you wish) that we wouldn't want to get in our eyes. We replaced all such sinks with sterile saline eyewash bottles. Any sink you decide to keep must be scrupulously clean - get it on a cleaning regime/rota and checked every day at least (but I'd still get rid of them). Ian

Posted By Jane Blunt Can you clarify the question - to me an eyewash sink has a spray fitted that does the eye washing - therefore you would not need a bottle of eyewash. Bottles of eye wash can be used anywhere - you don't need a sink. I don't think eye baths are looked on favourably any more. Jane

Posted By Ian Futcher I stand by my comment - get rid; use bottles Ian

Posted By Jay Joshi I would use the term eye-wash rather than an eye-wash sink. Saline water bottles can be supplementory, but if you are handling larger quantities of corrosive/harmful chemicals, you may need a proper emergency eye-wash/shower station. I could be mistaken, but there is no British Standard for this. Under COSHH Regulations, this would be covered by Regulation 13, i.e. arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z358.1-2004 "Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment" could be used as a guide. To be effective, the equipment has to be accessible. ANSI recommends that a person be able to reach the equipment in no more than 10 seconds. In practical terms, consider that the person who needs the equipment will be injured, and may not have use of their vision. Recommendations for this distance in linear terms range from 15 to 30 metres (50 to 100 feet ). However, the "10 second" rule may be modified depending on the potential effect of the chemical. Where a highly corrosive chemical is used, an emergency shower and eyewash station may be required within 3-6 metres (10-20 ft) from the hazard. These units should be installed in such a way that they do not become contaminated from corrosive chemicals used nearby. For emergency showers and eyewash stations to be effective, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment (ANSI Z358.1-2004) recommends that the affected body part must be flushed immediately and thoroughly for at least 15 minutes using a large supply of clean fluid under low pressure. Water does not neutralize contaminants -- it only dilutes and washes them away. This fact is why large amounts of water are needed. However, other references recommend a minimum 20-minute flushing period if the nature of the contaminant is not known. The flushing or rinsing time can be modified if the identity and properties of the chemical are known. For example: --a minimum 5-minute flushing time is recommended for mildly irritating chemicals --at least 20 minutes for moderate-to-severe irritants --20 minutes for non-penetrating corrosives, and --at least 60 minutes for penetrating corrosives. Non-penetrating corrosives are chemicals which react with human tissue to form a protective layer which limits the extent of damage. Most acids are non-penetrating corrosives. Penetrating corrosives, such as most alkalies, hydrofluoric acid and phenol, enter the skin or eyes deeply. Penetrating corrosives require longer water flushing (a minimum of 60 minutes) than non-penetrating corrosives (a minimum of 20 minutes).

Posted By Richard Selk The premises I am now in has a mains connected system and it requires considerably more maintenance and capital expenditure than really should be necessary, especially in comparison to a bottle system. And that is with a sensible adult employee population. I would be swayed towards bottles rather than a mains supply system in an young persons /educational environment. The obvious drawback of bottles is breakage of the tamper evident seals. I have found even undergrads have an "urge" to experiment and break the seals, so I would suggest you organise a competition for the best poster to be placed along side the stations along the lines of "don't mess with this it may be your eyes that need it!" R

Posted By dthorb I work in a school in East Renfrewshire and have been told by the office manager that they are now not supposed to give out eye wash bottles and that eyes should be washed with tap water!. I work in a technical department and although the sinks are not filthy the are certainly not sterile and I could not be sure if it is mains or tanked water. I would appreciate it if anyone could confirm this as it seems a tad strange, is it just our law suit society gone mad again?

Posted By Merv Newman I really don't like eye wash bottles. Half a litre and it's a bit too much like an optrex eye bath. I would much prefer the standard eye-wash installation, with caps over the jets so the crap doesn't get in, weekly, recorded testing. Not too bothered if it's mains or header tank water. Which would you prefer, hydrochloric or dilute solution of pigeon ? So, J. Very very good answer. I have always installed to ANSI and written instructions/signs to such. But. Have you ever tried 15 minutes under a cold shower, or 15 minutes of cold water on your eyeballs ? I did it. Nude. To a stop watch. There is a video tape. Not the most original blue film but then, there was not a lot to see. Story circulating at the time was of a tanker driver who got soaked in sulphuric. Showered but refused to take his boxers off. Severe burns in related areas. We did have to get our senior technician, Eveline, to sign a paper saying that she agreed, if circumstances required, to get all her kit off. Never happend in my time. Merv