The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has several requirements in place for businesses to maintain a safe and productive work environment for their staff. In the event of a fire emergency companies are expected to have portable fire extinguishers available. OSHA requirements are clear and concise and non-compliance could results in fines by the administration.
7 Requirements for Portable
Fire Extinguishers in the Workplace
- Providing extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers must be available, identified, and easy to access. They should be in a location where they can be accessed without causing injury.
- Approved extinguishers. Only approved portable fire extinguishers can be used to meet the requirements for OSHA.
- Unapproved extinguishers. Employers are not allowed to use fire extinguishers with carbon tetrachloride or chlorobromomethane extinguishing agents based on OSHA regulations.
- Maintenance. Portable fire extinguishers must be maintained, fully charged, and operable. They must be kept in their designated places at all times except during use.
- Classes of fires. Portable fire extinguishers must be provided for employee use and sare elected based on several classes of anticipated workplace fires. Contact OSHA to learn more about these classifications.
- Distance of the extinguisher. For example, a fire extinguisher used for Class A fires must be only 75 feet or less from employee access. Each class of extinguisher will be different.
- Responsibility. Employers are responsible for the inspection, maintenance and testing of all portable fire extinguishers in their workplace. They must be subjected to an annual inspection. Dates of inspections are to be recorded and kept on file and available for review as necessary.
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