Eye Wash Bottles and Stations - Our Picks
An eye wash station is an emergency kit designed to immediately treat eye injuries or prevent injuries from getting worse. Workplace eye wash stations are often integrated with the building water supply and are thus permanently part of the space. Home eye wash stations or kits on the other hand are more often portable and include bottled eye wash. Either way, these stations are a must-have if you’re welding because even with the best eye safety gear, there’s always the risk of getting something in your eye.
Why Eye Wash Stations Are Important
It’s absolutely vital that you treat your eye immediately should an injury occur. In fact, eye experts say that the first few minutes are the most critical. Flushing with water or other solution can minimize irritation and clean small particles from your eyes. Common flushing mediums in today’s eye wash bottles/stations include water, saline solution, and other commonly accepted solutions designed for the eyes.
Eye wash bottles typically come in either a cup design or a dropper design. The cup design allows the eye to be pressed up to the bottle allowing solution to be squeezed from the bottle and directed to the affected eye. Dropper designs as the name implies dispense solution in drops and requires they be used above the eye.
Most eye wash stations include instructions clearly printed on them that should always be followed. A station or bottle is fine for small particles or debris but not a substitute for medical attention. Any injury to the eyes is potentially serious and should be treated immediately by a doctor or qualified specialist.
Selecting an Eye Wash Station
So what factors make for a good eye wash station? In commercial environments, stations are typically large sink basin designs complete with dual flushing nozzles are require plumbing to domestic water. Most home welders probably won’t to spend the money or give up the space for a station like this. This is where a bottle station or kit comes into play.
Bottle Design
The first consideration is the design of the bottle. Our recommendation is to get a cup style bottle because they can be used in any orientation and allow for more flushing of the eye. Some may prefer a dropper design but in an emergency, a few drops may not be enough to clear out foreign particles.
Bottle Size and Quantity
The last thing you want to be doing if something gets into your eyes, is re-fill your eye wash bottle. Luckily, most single stations include a bottle designed for several uses but there are some smaller models which are difficult to recommend given their size. The best choice in our opinion is a dual bottle kit so there’s always a spare bottle (not a re-fill) on hand and ready should you need one or if you actually need treatment in both eyes.
Mounting Options
Your station should be mounted in an obvious and well lit area. Many kits include bottle holders and some have mirrors as well so eye height is recommended. It may be difficult in a small garage or shop, but the station should have at least 24″ of clear space in front of it as well.
Bel-Art Emergency Eye Wash Safety Station; 2 1000ml (x2) Bottles
Our top pick is the Bel-Art Emergency Eye Wash Station. It includes a mount and two 1000ml bottles of eye wash solution. The mount itself is made out of bright green plastic making it highly visible. Each bottle is designed to dispense fluid quickly either upright or upside down, and the station includes clear instructions printed on it. The Bel-Art station also includes a small mirror so you can check your eyes after flushing them. Three mounting holes and screws are provided for installation on a variety of surfaces.
Pros:
- Includes a mount and space for two bottles.
- Features a mirror.
Cons:
- Bottles come empty and must be filled before use.
Plum Plus Rinse 46506 Eyewash Station
Plum’s small eyewash station also contains a single 500ml bottle of saline solution that can quickly flush out your eyes in an emergency. This station is mounted on the wall but unlike the Bel-Art kit, has a door on the front that must be opened to access the washing solution. This keeps the space dust-free, which is ideal in some workshops and garages. The bottle is designed to be easy to open, and includes a special eyecup on the end that makes it very simple to use. Plum’s bottles are designed to be disposable and have a minimum 3 year expiration.
Pros:
- Cover prevents dust from getting into station.
- Easily portable.
Cons:
- Single bottle.
- No mirror on station.
PhysiciansCare 32oz. Double Bottle Eyewash Station
The PhysiciansCare Double Bottle Eyewash station is equipped with (2) 32oz. bottles of sterile isotonic buffered solution in a ‘cup-styled’ design for directly flushing the eyes. The kit ships with a dual bottle mounting station and is intended to clear the eyes of foreign material and other small debris via the squeeze bottles. These bottles are not re-fillable and typically expire in 12-18 months.
Pros:
- Good price and bottle size.
- Dual bottle design.
Cons:
- Mount is a bit flimsy.
- No mirror on station.
SmarterFresh Faucet Mounted Eyewash Station
Our next station takes a different approach providing a commercial style eye wash station as a faucet mounted accessory. This innovative design maintains use of the faucet while providing two emergency flushing nozzles operating at your house’s plumbing pressure. The unit’s integrated valve makes adjusting the flow and pressure easy and ships with various adaptors for attachment to exiting fixtures with removable aerators. This station is perfect for those with an existing slop sink or bathroom in close proximity to their shop or garage.
Pros:
- Easy installation on an existing faucet.
- Flushes water into eyes like a commercial station.
Cons:
- Requires a sink close to work area.
- Hard water may sting eyes.
Conclusion
Having an Eye Wash Station near your work area is very important should an emergency arise. The average welder will be performing several tasks that have above an above average risk of eye injury. A flushing bottle can provide an immediate means of treatment for small particles and can provide some relief prior to seeking medical assistance. We recommend that every shop or garage have a station as they are low cost and provide great safety benefits especially for welders.
