Washington First Aid: What you need to know

Washington's workplace safety and health plan, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1973 (WISHA), has first-aid requirements that are stricter than those of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) (Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-800-150 et seq.).

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries governs workplace safety and health in all workplaces, private and public (except federal facilities), in the state.

Employers must:

• Make sure first-aid supplies are readily available.
• Make sure first-aid supplies at the worksite are appropriate to the occupational setting and the response time of your emergency medical services.

Employers must make sure first-aid supplies are:

• Easily accessible to all employees.
• Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination. Containers must be clearly marked, not locked, and may be sealed.
• Able to be moved to the location of an injured or acutely ill person.

Employers must provide an emergency shower:

• When there is potential for major portions of an employee’s body to contact corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals; and
• That delivers water to cascade over the user’s entire body at a minimum rate of 20 gallons (75 liters) per minute for 15 minutes or more.

An emergency eyewash must be provided:

• When there is potential for an employee’s eyes to be exposed to corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals;
• That irrigates and flushes both eyes simultaneously while the user holds his or her eyes open;
• With an on-off valve that activates in 1 second or less and remains on without ...