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Fire Extinguisher Experts

Complete Firefighting Industry Index

Back to Extinguisher Questions and Answers

Employee Fire Fighting Rules laid out by OSHA

Think Safety

1. OSHA requires that if the employer provides fire extinguishers for employees to use, the employees must be trained to properly use them. As a quick guide to being prepared, you should know the following.

All Employees Should Know

Where the fire alarm boxes are in your area. They should be well marked and easy to access.
The procedures to follow in the event of a fire. What steps to follow, where to go and how to use a fire extinguisher if needed.
Where the fire extinguishers are located. And are the extinguishers mounted in a designated location, well marked and easy to access.
Where the fire exit routes are in your area. The lighted exits signs will help guide you in heavy smoke or if the lights are out, but you should know the layout of the area.

What does the Law Says?

Occupational Health and Safety Act
Section 123 of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments (R.R.O. 851/90) specifies that the requirements of the Fire Code respecting fire extinguishers apply at industrial establishments.

Go to for more information on rules OSHA?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration aims to ensure worker safety and health in the United States by working with employers and employees to create better working environments. Since its inception in 1971, OSHA has helped to cut workplace fatalities by more than 60 percent and occupational injury and illness rates by 40 percent. At the same time, U.S. employment has doubled from 56 million workers at 3.5 million worksites to more than 115 million workers at 7.1 million sites.

In Fiscal Year 2004, OSHA has an authorized staff of 2,220, including 1,123 inspectors. The agency's appropriation is quite a budget in 2004 of $457.5 million.

OSHA relies on NFPA 10 to develop its workplace training regulations because it contains the clearest, most widely accepted rules for distribution and placement, maintenance, operation, inspection, testing, and recharging. And only the 2002 edition provides:

Clarified Class C requirements

Important changes to Class K requirements

A new mandate for Class K extinguishers for fryer protection in commercial kitchens

An all-new provision for electronic monitoring of equipment

Note: For more good information on how to fight a fire with and extinguisher?

What general training should a employee have?

All employees who may be required to use fire extinguishers should receive training. Training should cover:

1. extinguisher locations;

2. classes of fire most likely to break out in your workplace and the proper extinguishers to use;

3. markings on extinguishers;

4. when and how to use extinguishers;

5. importance of sounding the alarm;

6. health and safety hazards;

7. personal protective equipment.

Employers should use lectures and demonstrations, and give employees plenty of opportunity to practice using extinguishers. Employees should have them practice on extinguishers that need recharging. With increased confidence, employees are more likely to respond effectively to fire emergencies.

Employers should make sure employees are aware of the operating instructions posted by extinguishers and provide retraining as needed.