Portable Eye Wash Units

Portable eye wash units

Self-contained emergency eyewash units for workplaces without plumbed water supply, for remote worksites, for mobile operations (service vehicles, mine sites, field teams), and as supplementary units close to specific hazards where running a plumbed unit is impractical. The chemistry of the 15-minute irrigation rule doesn't change with portability — the challenge is delivering sustained flow without mains water.

Portable unit types

• Gravity-fed — a tank mounted above head height; gravity delivers flow when the valve is opened. Typical tank sizes 10–50 L. Flow duration depends on tank size — a 15 L tank at 1.5 L/min compliant flow gives 10 minutes, short of the 15-minute standard. Larger tanks or combined units are needed for full compliance.
• Self-contained pressure units — sealed, pressurised cartridges delivering controlled flow. Compact and cleaner to install, but require pressure testing and recharging.
• Squeeze-bottle personal eyewash — 500 mL hand-held bottles with saline or sterile water. Useful for immediate flushing at the point of exposure while the user moves to a larger unit. Not compliant as a primary eyewash — capacity is too limited for 15 minutes of irrigation.
• Wall-mount portable eyewash stations — larger tank capacity (20–60 L) wall-mounted, providing the equivalent of a fixed eyewash in locations without plumbing.

When portable is the right choice

• Remote worksites with no plumbing — construction sites, agricultural spraying, forestry, mining exploration.
• Service vehicles — van, ute, and truck-mount eyewash for field techs handling chemicals.
• Supplementary coverage — in addition to fixed units, placed close to specific hazards (e.g. next to a decanting pump that's 20 m from the fixed shower).
• Temporary or short-duration workplaces — site establishment or demolition phases where running plumbing is impractical.

When portable is not enough

• Whole-body splash risk — portable units cannot deliver shower-level flow (75.7 L/min for 15 minutes = 1100+ L). For whole-body splash, a plumbed shower is required.
• Permanent high-hazard workplaces — lab, pharma, chemical processing, refineries — where the regulatory expectation is fixed plumbed units as the primary response.
• Long-duration incidents — strong alkali splashes need 20+ minutes of flushing, exceeding most portable tank capacities.

Preservative and shelf life

Water in a portable tank grows microbial contamination if left untreated. Portable units use either:

• Preservative additives — mixed into the tank water to extend usable life to 3–6 months typically.
• Sealed sterile cartridges — factory-sealed; swapped at expiry.
• Saline solution — used in personal-issue squeeze bottles.

Record-keeping: log the fill/replace date on the unit; check weekly for tank integrity, seal integrity, and replace per the manufacturer's interval.

Standards & compliance

Portable eyewash units in this range meet AS 4775 where rated as compliant (flow rate and 15-minute duration). Some compact units do not meet the 15-minute duration and are rated only as "immediate response" or "personal eyewash" — read the specification before relying on a portable as a primary response.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 500 mL squeeze bottle enough for an eye splash?

Not on its own — 500 mL delivers about 20–30 seconds of eyewash, far short of the 15-minute requirement. Squeeze bottles are useful as the first response while the user moves to a larger unit, but they do not replace a compliant eyewash.

How often should I replace the water in a portable tank?

Per the manufacturer's preservative specification — typically 3–6 months for preservative-treated water. Check the unit's label and log replacement dates. Never fill with plain tap water and leave for extended periods.

Can a portable unit serve as the only eyewash for a permanent site?

Possibly, if the workplace is remote and plumbed supply isn't available. For most permanent installations with water supply, AS 4775 and WHS best-practice expect fixed plumbed units. Check with your WHS consultant or occupational hygienist for the specific assessment for your site.

Do you offer trade or bulk pricing?

Yes — 5% trade discount, plus bundled packages for fleet vehicle fit-outs and multi-site portable-unit programs. Apply for a trade account →