Emergency eyewash stations are required and are an integral component of many health and safety programs at companies and institutions in New York and across the tri-state area. Eye injuries are a significant workplace hazard in some occupations and according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries. These injuries cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and worker compensation.

Eyewash stations help to mitigate eye injuries as they can be used to wash away chemicals, biological agents, and other substances. These eyewash stations, whether permanently plumbed or having self-contained flushing fluid, need proper maintenance or they may present health hazards that can worsen or cause additional damage to a worker’s eye. In fact, OSHA reports that water found in improperly maintained eyewash stations is more likely to contain organisms that thrive in stagnant or untreated water and are known to cause infections. When a worker uses an eyewash station that is not maintained, organisms in the water may come into contact with the eye, skin, or may be inhaled. Workers using eyewash stations after exposure to a hazardous chemical or material may have eye injuries that make the eye more susceptible to infection. Also, workers with skin damage or compromised immune systems are at increased risk for developing illnesses from contaminated water.

“There are a number of microorganisms that can thrive in improperly maintained eyewash stations, including Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acanthamoeba,” said Michael Berrevoets, President, VOETS, LLC. “These are just a few of the organisms so it’s critical that emergency eyewash stations are properly maintained and monitored on a regular basis. At VOETS, we offer testing, monitoring, and training services to help companies and institutions ensure their EHS programs are effective and to minimize the risk of microbial hazards in eyewash stations and throughout a facility.”

VOETS recently sponsored an educational video about potential microbial risks from improper maintenance of emergency eyewash stations that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Nb9XdcO1cZk