SE480 Aerated Eye/Face Wash (Pedestal Mounted)

All emergency eyewash and shower equipment in Australia must comply with
AS4775-2007 — Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. This is the Australian
equivalent of the international ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 standard. For Australian
businesses that work with hazardous chemicals, using AS4775-compliant equipment
is mandatory. The standard sets minimum performance requirements for flow rate,
flush duration, water temperature, placement, activation method, and ongoing
maintenance. All eyewash stations stocked by BIG Safety comply with
AS4775-2007.

Under AS4775-2007, minimum flow rate and duration requirements vary by equipment
type:

- Plumbed and self-contained eyewash stations: minimum 1.5 L/min for 15
continuous minutes

- Eye and face wash stations: minimum 11.4 L/min for 15 continuous minutes

- Emergency safety showers: minimum 75.5 L/min for 15 continuous minutes

- Drench hoses (supplemental equipment): flow must be non-injurious to the user
— no fixed minimum

The 15-minute minimum flush duration applies across all primary equipment types. Flushing fluid must be delivered to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity low enough to avoid injury to delicate eye tissue.

Under AS4775, eyewash stations must be:

- Located no more than 10 seconds' travel time from the identified hazard - typically within 15 metres

- On the same level as the hazard, with no steps or level changes between the hazard and the unit

- Accessible via a clear, unobstructed path that an injured worker can navigate without full vision

- Clearly identifiable with AS4775-compliant signage, and ideally marked with a green indicator light

- In a well-illuminated area so the station is visible in all operating conditions

All workers and visitors must be trained on the location of the nearest station and how to activate it quickly.

Yes - water temperature is a critical compliance and safety factor. AS4775 requires eyewash stations to deliver tepid water, generally defined as comfortable for extended flushing and below 38°C. Extremes of hot or cold water can cause additional injury, deter a worker from flushing for the full 15 minutes, or cause shock.

For outdoor installations or sites where pipework or tanks are exposed to direct sun, a scald protection (thermostatic mixing) valve is strongly recommended to prevent scalding. For cold-climate sites, insulated or heated units are available. Tepid water compliance should be factored into every site risk assessment when selecting and installing eyewash equipment.

There are five main types of eyewash station, each suited to different workplace environments:

• Plumbed eyewash stations (wall, pedestal, bench, or over-sink mounted) — permanently connected to a building's water supply. Best for facilities with a fixed hazard location and reliable plumbing infrastructure.
• Portable self-contained units (45L, 106L) — pressurised stainless steel tanks filled with potable water. Best for remote sites, construction, mining, and agriculture where no plumbing is available.
• Combination eyewash and safety shower units — provide simultaneous eye, face, and full-body decontamination from a single station. Recommended wherever whole-body chemical exposure is a risk.
• Eye and face wash stations — deliver higher flow (11.4+ L/min) to flush both eyes and the full face, including cheeks and forehead. Suited to environments with airborne chemical, dust, or mist hazards.
• Personal and supplemental eyewash bottles — small first-flush units kept at the point of exposure. These do not replace primary stations; they provide immediate flushing while the worker moves to a full eyewash station.

Product selection should always be based on a documented risk assessment that considers hazard type, the body areas at risk, number of workers exposed, and site plumbing availability.

You can use the Big Safety Safety Shower and Eyewash Decision Flow Chart  to assist in determining the correct equipment for your needs.

An eyewash station delivers flushing fluid specifically to the eye area — two nozzles positioned to flush both eyes simultaneously. It does not provide coverage across the full face.

An eye and face wash station includes additional side jets or nozzles that extend flushing coverage to the cheeks, forehead, and surrounding facial tissue. It must deliver a significantly higher minimum flow rate - 11.4 L/min versus 1.5 L/min for eyewash only - to cover the larger surface area adequately.

Choose an eye and face wash station when workers face airborne hazards such as chemical mist, fumes, fine dust, or splash risks that could contact the entire face rather than just the eyes. BIG Safety stocks Speakman's SE480 (pedestal) and SE400 (wall mounted) eye/face wash models for these higher-risk applications.

A combination eyewash and safety shower is the recommended choice whenever a worker could sustain both eye and whole-body chemical exposure simultaneously - such as in chemical manufacturing, industrial processing, or laboratory environments where large volumes of corrosive or hazardous liquids are handled.

Combination units allow a single injured worker to flush their eyes and drench their body at the same time, without needing to move between two separate stations. This is especially important when a worker is in pain or disoriented. Under AS4775, when a combination unit is installed, both the shower and eyewash elements must be capable of simultaneous operation without causing a reduction in flow rate or pressure in either component.

Standalone eyewash stations are appropriate where the hazard is limited to the face and eye area only - for example, bench-level chemical handling in a laboratory or light dust exposure in a workshop.

Plumbed eyewash stations are available in four main mounting configurations:

• Wall mounted (e.g. Speakman SE505) - connected to a wall-mounted water supply line. Compact footprint, ideal for corridors, laboratories, and workshops with limited floor space.
• Bench or over-sink mounted (e.g. SE572, SE927) - sits on or over an existing sink or workbench. Well suited to laboratories, medical facilities, and manufacturing environments where drainage infrastructure is already in place.
• Pedestal mounted (e.g. SE546, SE480) - freestanding floor unit connected to a floor-level water supply. Used in open factory or warehouse settings where wall connections are not practical.
• Combination shower and eyewash — typically ceiling-mounted or overhead shower head combined with an integrated eyewash bowl at waist height, connected to the same water supply.

The most appropriate mounting option depends on your facility layout, existing plumbing connection points, and the precise location of the identified chemical hazard.

An aerated eyewash mixes air into the water stream before it exits the nozzle, producing a soft, bubbling flow rather than a hard direct jet of water. This delivers two important safety advantages:

First, the aerated stream creates a gentle scrubbing action that dislodges and flushes contaminants from the sensitive mucous membranes of the eye more effectively than a flat water stream.

Second, the softer, lower-impact flow reduces the risk of additional trauma to an already irritated or chemically burned eye. This also encourages the injured worker to keep their eyes open and maintain flushing for the full 15 minutes - a critical factor in limiting long-term injury.

All Speakman eyewash stations at BIG Safety feature aerated dual-stream nozzles that deliver a minimum of 12 litres per minute in a spray pattern shaped to closely follow the natural contour of the eye socket.

AS4775 specifies the following inspection and activation requirements:

• Plumbed eyewash stations: must be activated weekly to flush stagnant water from the supply line, confirm correct function, and verify adequate flow. Weekly activation also prevents bacterial buildup - including Legionella - in standing water.
• Self-contained portable units: flushing fluid should be replaced every 1–2 weeks to maintain water quality and minimise contamination risk.
• All units: a formal inspection and maintenance record should be kept on site. Key items to check include the pressure gauge reading, nozzle condition, dust caps, hose integrity, fittings, and instruction label.

Regular inspection is not merely a compliance requirement - it is the difference between a station that functions correctly during an emergency and one that fails at the critical moment.

The minimum flush time required is 15 minutes of continuous flushing at a primary eyewash station, as specified by AS4775. This duration is based on medical evidence that many chemical injuries continue to progress during the initial minutes after exposure, and that adequate, uninterrupted flushing is necessary to dilute and mechanically remove the contaminant from eye tissue.

The correct emergency response sequence is:

1. Activate the nearest eyewash station within 10 seconds of the exposure event
2. Hold eyelids open and allow water to flush both eyes simultaneously
3. Continue flushing for the full 15 minutes without stopping - even if discomfort appears to decrease
4. Seek immediate medical attention after flushing is complete, regardless of the apparent severity of the injury

For workers using a personal eyewash bottle as first-flush, the bottle should be activated immediately at the point of exposure, and then the worker must proceed to a primary plumbed or self-contained eyewash station for the complete 15-minute flush.

No - eyewash stations are first aid equipment, not risk control measures. Under Australia's Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation and the hierarchy of controls, employers are required to first eliminate, substitute, isolate, or engineer out chemical hazards before relying on PPE or emergency response equipment. Eyewash stations sit alongside PPE at the bottom of the hierarchy - they address the consequence of an accident, not its cause.

In a compliant WHS safety plan, eyewash stations should be:

• Identified as part of a documented risk assessment that considers hazard type and exposure scenarios
• Selected based on the nature and severity of potential chemical exposure
• Incorporated into emergency response procedures, with clear worker training on location and use
• Regularly tested and maintained, with inspection records kept on site
• Provided in addition to - not instead of - appropriate eye protection PPE such as safety glasses, chemical goggles, or face shields

Providing an eyewash station does not reduce the employer's obligation to supply and enforce proper PPE and primary hazard controls.

We mainly use TNT & Border Express dependant on the delivery location throughout Australia.