Hand and eye washing systems and stations are used for hand washing and emergency eye and body washing in laboratory, industrial, or factory environments. Hand and eye washing systems and stations are required when there is a potential for the body or eyes to be exposed to corrosives, strong irritants, or toxic chemicals. In these instances, hand and eye washing systems and stations must be available and accessible to workers. The proper selection of hand and eye washing systems and stations is based on the properties of the chemicals being used and the tasks being undertaken. In short, the type of equipment should match the potential hazards.

An emergency eye wash station is designed to flush only the eye and face area. There are three major types of emergency wash stations: eye wash bowls, drench hoses at sinks, and plastic eye wash bottles. Boric acid eye wash, an antiseptic commonly used in commercial “artificial tears” and eyewash products, may be found in an emergency eye wash station. Compared to an emergency eye wash station, an emergency shower, also called a drench or deluge shower, is used to flush the worker’s entire head and body. An emergency shower should never be used to flush a worker’s eyes as the higher rates of pressure can cause damage to the eye. A solenoid shower system uses a solenoid valve to control the water flow in conjunction with a timer so that the flushing occurs for the appropriate amount of time. Hand wash stations are critical for hand cleansing to prevent the spread of bacterial infections or to remove contaminants after gloves and protective equipment are removed. A hand sanitizing system can range from a one station to a four-station sink and often includes hands-free foot pump operations, a heater to keep water temperature warm, or built-in lifting handles. A portable hand washing station may also be used; however, these units have limited amounts of water and must be continuously maintained to be sure the unit is available at all times.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes regulations that apply to hand and eye washing systems and stations. In addition, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed the ANSI standard Z358.1-1990, "Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment", to help users select and install hand and eye washing systems and stations in order to meet OSHA requirements.