Fire Prevention in the Workplace - How to Use Fire Extinguishers
October Is National Fire Prevention Month
In many workplaces, the fire extinguisher has become wall art. Everyone walks past it every day, yet in an emergency no one can find it. Employers are responsible for protecting their employees, and that includes protection from fire.
Fire is a possibility in most workplaces and can be fatal. Employers must assess the types of emergencies that could occur at their workplace and plan for them. Fire is one of the most common.
Having the right tools to control a fire is essential. City, county and state requirements may also apply to fire extinguishing methods, but this post focuses on the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
What OSHA 1910.157 Covers
OSHA standard 1910.157 sets the requirements for the placement, use, maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers provided for employee use. Note this exemption in the standard:
"Where the employer has established and implemented a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal and which includes an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan which meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1910.39 respectively, and when extinguishers are not available in the workplace, the employer is exempt from all requirements of this section unless a specific standard in part 1910 requires that a portable fire extinguisher be provided."
In other words, the exemption applies only if you have a written Emergency Action Plan and Fire Prevention Plan that meets OSHA's requirements. If extinguishers are on the wall, the rest of this standard applies. Either way, those two plans are the foundation of your fire safety program.
General Requirements
Employers who provide fire extinguishers must:
- Mount, locate and identify them so they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting employees to possible injury.
- Use only approved portable fire extinguishers. Extinguishers are tested and approved by independent, nationally recognized testing laboratories, most notably UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and FM Approvals.
- Never provide extinguishers that use carbon tetrachloride or chlorobromomethane extinguishing agents.
- Keep extinguishers fully charged and in operable condition.
- Keep extinguishers in their designated places at all times, except during use.
Selection and Distribution
OSHA requires extinguishers matched to the classes of fire your workplace could have: Class A (ordinary combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids and gases), Class C (energized electrical equipment) and Class D (combustible metals). Each class also comes with a maximum travel distance to the nearest extinguisher.
Getting the type, number and placement right depends on the specific hazards in each area of your facility. That's where a professional risk assessment comes in.
Inspection, Maintenance and Testing
The employer is responsible for inspecting, maintaining and testing every portable fire extinguisher in the workplace. OSHA requires monthly visual inspections, an annual maintenance check with records you can show an inspector, and periodic internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing on schedules that vary by extinguisher type. Local fire codes may add their own requirements on top of OSHA's.
Training and Education
If you provide fire extinguishers and expect employees to use them, OSHA requires training when employees are first hired or assigned, and at least once a year after that. Employees assigned to fight fires as part of your emergency plan need hands-on training as well.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: Remember PASS
Only fight a fire if it is small, you have a clear exit behind you, and you have been trained. If in doubt, get out and call 911. To use a portable extinguisher, remember PASS:
- Pull the pin, breaking the tamper seal.
- Aim low, pointing the nozzle at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
- Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out.
Watch the area afterward. If the fire flares up again or the extinguisher runs empty, evacuate immediately. Learn more from OSHA's fire extinguisher use guidance.
Summary
As we observe National Fire Prevention Month this October, take a fresh look at your fire prevention and emergency preparedness programs. A well-maintained fire extinguisher is only effective if it is accessible, employees know where it is, and they understand when and how to use it safely.
Learn about Fire Prevention in Dental Practices & Dental Labs: Flammable Chemicals, Oxygen and Laser Risks.
Not sure your workplace would pass an OSHA fire safety review? SafeLink Consulting helps employers nationwide with:
- Risk assessments that identify the fire hazards specific to your facility and where you stand with OSHA
- Emergency Action & Fire Prevention Plans written for your workplace, not a generic template
- OSHA training so your employees know what to do when seconds count
Call 770-205-6745 or email info@safelinkconsulting.com to get started.
Keep your workplace safe and inspection-ready
Work with a SafeLink OSHA consultant on your safety program, training, and exposure controls — across every industry we serve.
Talk to an OSHA consultant ↗ Mary A. Bartlett, CDIPC, Senior Vice President & Founder of SafeLink Consulting, has spent more than three decades at the forefront of dental industry compliance and safety. Since 1991, she has been a trusted presenter and on-site instructor for dental and general industry professionals across the United States, Canada, and Asia — delivering expertise on employee health and safety, patient safety, privacy, and quality assurance. She has authored content for numerous national publications, and her clients consistently benefit from her hands-on experience navigating OSHA, FDA, and State Board inspections. Mary is Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control.
