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When a chemical splashes onto someone’s skin or into their eyes, the first few moments matter.

There is no time to search for instructions, find a key or work out how the emergency shower operates. The affected worker needs to reach the right equipment and start flushing immediately.

That is why an emergency safety shower is more than something a workplace installs to tick a box. It needs to be in the right location, ready to use and familiar to the people who may depend on it.

This guide explains what workers should do after a chemical exposure, how to use an emergency shower or eyewash station correctly, and what workplaces can do now to make sure their emergency equipment is genuinely ready when needed.

Chemical exposure: what should you do first?

If a hazardous chemical contacts the skin or eyes, move immediately to the nearest emergency shower or eyewash station and begin flushing.

Do not wait for pain, redness or irritation to develop. Some chemical injuries are not immediately obvious, and delaying first aid can increase the severity of the exposure.

While flushing continues, another worker should raise the alarm, locate the chemical’s current safety data sheet (SDS) and arrange appropriate medical assistance.

The SDS matters because first-aid requirements can vary between chemicals. Where specific instructions are provided for the substance involved, follow them together with advice from the Poisons Information Centre, emergency services or a medical professional.

The important principle is simple: start flushing first, then get help while flushing continues.

How to use an emergency safety shower

For chemical exposure affecting the body, move under the emergency shower and activate it immediately.

Allow the water to run continuously over every affected area.

Remove contaminated clothing while flushing

Clothing, footwear, jewellery and personal protective equipment can trap chemicals against the skin and prolong exposure.

Remove contaminated items as quickly as practical while the shower is running, provided they can be removed safely.

If clothing or another material has become stuck to damaged or burned skin, do not pull it away. Leave it in place and seek medical assistance.

Anyone helping the affected person should also take precautions to avoid becoming contaminated themselves.

Take care with dry chemicals

Not every chemical exposure should be treated in exactly the same way.

If a dry chemical is present on the body, loose material may need to be carefully brushed away before water is applied. Always check the product’s SDS, as some substances require different first-aid measures or may react with water.

This is one reason current SDSs need to be easy to access during an emergency, rather than stored somewhere workers cannot quickly reach them.

Keep flushing

Continue flushing affected skin with cool running water for at least 15 minutes, unless the chemical’s SDS or medical advice directs otherwise.

Do not stop simply because the pain or stinging starts to ease.

Feeling better does not necessarily mean the chemical has been completely removed.

What if the chemical gets into someone’s eyes?

Chemical exposure to the eyes needs immediate action.

Activate the eyewash station and begin rinsing straight away.

Hold the eyelids open so water can gently rinse across the entire surface of the affected eye. If only one eye has been exposed, position the head so contaminated water drains away from the unaffected eye where practical.

If the person is wearing contact lenses, do not delay flushing while trying to remove them. Remove them only if they come out easily during irrigation.

Continue flushing with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes unless the SDS, Poisons Information Centre or a medical professional advises a different response.

If both the eyes and body have been exposed, and the combination safety shower and eyewash unit is designed to operate both functions at the same time, use both.

When should you seek medical help?

Emergency flushing is first aid. It is not a substitute for medical assessment or treatment.

Prompt medical advice should be sought following a chemical burn or chemical exposure to the eyes, even when the injury initially appears minor. Some chemical injuries can continue developing after exposure, and symptoms may not appear immediately.

Call Triple Zero (000) if the person:

• Collapses or becomes unconscious
• Is not breathing normally
• Has a seizure
• Develops severe breathing difficulties
• Experiences another serious or life-threatening reaction

For chemical-specific poisoning and first-aid advice in Australia, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

If possible, have the following information ready:

• The chemical or product name
• The product label
• The current SDS
• The chemical concentration, if known
• The areas of the body affected
• The approximate duration of exposure
• The time flushing began
• How long flushing continued

An injured worker should not travel alone to receive medical treatment.

The emergency shower has been used. What happens next?

Once the immediate medical emergency is under control, attention should turn to the workplace.

An emergency shower or eyewash station that has just been used should not simply be left for the next person to discover there is a problem.

The incident should be reported and investigated under the workplace’s normal emergency and injury-reporting procedures.

Before the equipment is returned to service, the responsible person, team or service provider should inspect it.

Important areas to check include:

• Water flow
• Water temperature
• Drainage
• Valve operation
• Blocked or damaged outlets
• Contamination
• Access to the equipment

Contaminated clothing, PPE, water and other materials also need to be managed in line with the relevant SDS, workplace spill and waste procedures, and applicable environmental requirements.

The incident is also an opportunity to ask an important question:

Did our emergency arrangements work as well as they should have?

If the worker struggled to reach the shower, could not find the SDS, was unsure how to activate the equipment or encountered another delay, those problems should be addressed before another exposure occurs.

The best time to prepare is before an incident

The effectiveness of an emergency shower depends on much more than whether one has been installed.

Think about what would happen if a worker had chemical in their eyes and could barely see.

Could they reach the emergency equipment quickly?

Would the route be obvious?

Would anything be blocking it?

Would they know how to activate the shower immediately?

These are the practical questions that matter during a real incident.

Emergency showers and eyewash stations should be positioned so workers can reach them quickly and safely from areas where hazardous substances are handled.

Their location and access arrangements should be determined through a site-specific risk assessment and checked against the current requirements of AS 4775:2026 — Emergency shower, eyewash and eye/face wash equipment and drench hoses.

As a practical starting point, the route to emergency washing equipment should be:

• Clearly marked
• Well lit
• Free from equipment, stock and other obstructions
• Easy to follow when visibility is impaired
• Accessible without keys or special authorisation

Workers who may be exposed to hazardous substances should also know where the nearest emergency shower and eyewash station is located before they ever need it.

That means emergency equipment should be covered during workplace induction, emergency-response training and refresher training.

Don’t wait for an emergency to discover a problem

One of the biggest risks with emergency equipment is that a problem can remain unnoticed until someone actually needs to use it.

A blocked outlet, poor water flow, difficult valve or obstructed access route can turn a straightforward first-aid response into a much more serious situation.

Regular activation, inspection and maintenance help identify these issues early.

Emergency washing equipment should be checked and maintained in line with applicable requirements, the manufacturer’s instructions and the workplace’s maintenance program.

If a fault is discovered, it should be addressed promptly.

Where equipment is temporarily unavailable, the workplace should assess the risk and put suitable temporary controls or alternative emergency arrangements in place until the unit is restored.

Is your workplace actually ready?

A useful emergency preparedness review does not need to be complicated.

Walk through your site and ask:

• Can workers reach emergency showers and eyewash stations quickly?
• Are the units clearly identified?
• Are access routes well lit and free from obstructions?
• Do workers know where their nearest unit is?
• Do they know how to activate it?
• Do they understand that flushing should begin immediately?
• Are current SDSs easy to access?
• Is the equipment regularly inspected and maintained?
• Are emergency procedures included in worker training?
• Is it clear who reports faults and who is responsible for maintaining the equipment?

If any answer gives you pause, there is probably something worth reviewing.

The objective is not simply to have an emergency shower on site.

It is to make sure that when someone genuinely needs it, nothing gets between that person and immediate first aid.

Choosing and maintaining the right emergency safety equipment

Different workplaces have different chemical exposure risks, which means emergency washing arrangements need to suit the hazards, layout and activities of the site.

Spill Station Australia has supported Australian workplaces with spill response and control equipment since 1983.

Our range of emergency safety showers and eyewash equipment is designed for workplaces where hazardous chemicals and other substances are used, handled or stored.

We can also help with the practical side of emergency preparedness, including equipment supply, installation and servicing.

If you are unsure whether your existing equipment is suitably located, accessible or ready for use, contact Spill Station Australia to discuss your emergency shower and eyewash requirements and practical steps to support your workplace and AS 4775:2026.

When an oil spill takes place, it is essential that action is taken immediately after detection to contain the situation as quickly as possible. An oil spill can happen anywhere, including workshops, warehouses, transport depots, construction sites, and marine environments. 

An oil spill kit is used to resolve small incidents before they become large-scale and costly environmental incidents. How to ensure a successful organisational response to an incident depends completely on what is in the oil spill kit.

What Are The Components Of An Oil Spill Kit?

General components in an oil spill kit include absorbent pads, absorbent booms/socks, disposal bags, PPE, guidance for responding to an oil spill and a storage container.

1. Absorbent Pads

Absorbent pads are made from materials that meet the requirements of being able to absorb oil or gasoline and to repel water. They will absorb a lot of oil, making them very useful for clean-ups on land as well as on the sea, and also for cleaning up leaks, drips and surface spills.

2. Absorbent Booms/ Socks

Absorbent booms/socks are designed to be used in preventing a spill from spreading and contain a spill. They can be placed around machines, drains or the perimeter of a spill to create a barrier. 

3. Absorbent Pillows

Absorbent pillows are designed to absorb large quantities of oil and fuel. These are most commonly placed under leaking equipment, drums or machinery in areas where oil can probably collect.

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Protecting the staff working on the spot during a spill response is of utmost priority. Standard spill kits contain gloves and safety goggles, as well as disposable coveralls, to minimise the responder’s exposure to the hazardous materials involved in the spill.

5. Spill Response Guide

Having a clear set of spill response procedures enables responders to respond quickly and confidently in an emergency. Most oil spill kits have directions on how to stop the spill, contain it, clean it up and then dispose it off correctly.

6. Storage Container

A durable and clearly marked container should be used to store an oil spill kit. The type of container will vary depending on the user’s situation. Some examples include: portable bags, wheelie bins, or larger mobile units.

How to Choose an Ideal Oil Spill Kit

Each item in a spill kit plays its own unique part in preventing an oil spill from spreading and causing more significant environmental damage or injury; therefore, having properly stocked kits decreases environmental impact from oil spills caused by equipment failures or other unforeseen events.

To help create safe and efficient workplaces, it is imperative that you also regularly inspect your oil spill kits, position them strategically within your facility, and purchase quality spill kits that will enable you to effectively respond to any future oil spills that may occur.

For further information about oil spill kits and spill response solutions, please visit Spill Station Australia’s website.

If you have an oil spill kit in the workplace, you are probably someone that values the importance of safety. Everybody wants their work environment to be safe, secure, and compliant with the relevant standards. While having a kit is a good start, inspections, replenishment, and maintenance all play a vital role. When considering safety, it is good to think about timing. Does it really matter how often you inspect and restock your spill kits? To help find the answer to that question, the team at Spill Station has put together a handy guide.

How Often Should You Check and Replenish Your Spill Kits?

How often a spill kit should be changed and restocked is not always set in stone. Each business and industry is different, and the requirements can vary. Some may require monthly, bi-monthly, or even quarterly inspections. What can help you determine the regularity? Some of the determining factors may include:

Risk Level

If you work on a site that is designated as high-risk and handle chemicals daily, your inspections will generally be a lot more frequent. Some work sites have multiple spill kits in different locations, and the risk level at each site may be different. The important thing is to determine the risk and check it regularly.

Usage

Spill kits are made to be used and inevitably, you will likely have a spill at some stage. It is important to check the kit after every spill and restock as needed. Most items in the kit are designed to be single-use and will need replacing straight away. During the inspection it is also important to check the dates on any relevant items and replace them as needed.

Compliance

There may be relevant regulations that determine the frequency of inspections. This can even be a legal requirement, making it vital to address. Being aware of the safety standards and timing can also help you determine how often to check and update your oil spill kits.

How to Stay On Top of Spill Kit Inspections

If left to chance, the likelihood of regular inspections is bound to be a lot less. The key to regularity is accountability and scheduling. Having a designated staff member keep an eye on things goes a long way. Most companies will also have a reporting procedure with regular alerts that can remind you when the inspection is due. With the right systems in place, the process runs much more smoothly.

If you are not sure of how often you should inspect, or what may be required, there is no harm in getting a second opinion. Because safety is involved, it is best to over-prepare rather than to guess. If you are not quite sure how to evaluate things, the team at Spill Station are ready and would love to assist with all your spill kit needs. Whether you want to replace a few items, update them with some new products, or even get a whole new kit going, our team is always happy to help. Prioritizing this before an emergency occurs can make all the difference and will help ensure you are ready and prepared when the time comes.

A spill in the workplace or at home can be a stressful situation. While it may be something we would prefer not to think about, it is likely a reality that may happen at some point. The good news? It doesn’t have to be overly stressful. With the right preparation and a bit of forethought, you can be prepared and ready when an emergency does occur.

A common type of spill is an oil spill. In fact, an oil spill kit is one of the most common kits you will find in most workplaces. If you find yourself in the middle of a spill, what are the steps to handle the situation? Read below as we break down how to use oil spill kits effectively.

Step One: Assess

The first step is to determine the extent of the spill. This will give you an idea of the level of risk involved and what PPE may be required. Having an understanding of where the spill is coming from and which way it is flowing will help you contain it effectively.

Step Two: Contain

With a better understanding of the extent of the spill, you can now work on containing the spread. Most spill kits will have some kind of equipment, such as a boom or a sock, that will allow you to do so. Properly containing the spill will prevent further damage and any risk of injury.

Step Three: Deploy Materials

With the spill properly contained, you can now start the clean-up process. An oil spill kit will have some kind of absorbent that can be used to absorb the liquid. Use as much as required to absorb all of the spill leaving the area as dry as possible.

Step Four: Dispose and Clean Up

With the oil spill now contained and absorbed, you can start with the final clean-up. Be sure to collect all of the absorbents and dispose of them in accordance with the local regulations. Then you can begin cleaning the area leaving it dry, safe and ready for work again.

Where to Get an Oil Spill Kit?

These are just the basic steps involved in cleaning an oil spill. It’s likely that each company will have its own procedures and regulations in place to handle them effectively and safely. The size and extent of the spill can also have an impact on how things are managed.

If you don’t currently have an oil spill kit, or are looking for a refresh, where can you find a reliable and safe option? We here at Spill Station are the spill kit experts. We have been helping workplaces since 1983 with all their spill kit needs. Get in touch with our friendly team today to see how we can help maintain a safe and comfortable environment for you and your staff.