Approved Eyewash Solutions – Worker Protection
Can ONLY approved eyewash solutions can be used in rinsing eyes contaminated with pesticides?
True or False?
Answer: FALSE
Clear, clean water is more than adequate for flushing and rinsing eyes that have been affected by pesticides. Published recommendations are that the flushing with water or other eyewash solutions be continuous for up to 15 minutes to assure total removal of residues of chemicals.
The water should be clean and clear, preferably potable and should not be too warm or excessively cold. (One of the approved EPA WPS (worker protection standards) Training tapes shows an instructor demonstrating how to flush a worker’s eyes out with water from an Igloo cooler, which hopefully was not ice water).
Specialized eyewash solutions must be current and fresh. We have a tendency to set-up eyewash stations and then let them sit unattended for long periods (sometimes years) and then, when we need to use the solution, it has decomposed and smells of sewer water!. This is not good for the eyes! The eyewash solutions should be replaced every 6 months and more frequently if the station is out in direct sunlight.
