Employee awareness

OSHA Requirement

Owners with portable extinguishers available for employee use are generally under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g). In plain terms that splits into two levels:

1. Education for employees who may use them

• General principles of fire extinguisher use
• Hazards of fighting incipient-stage fires
• Required at hire and at least annually
• Can be classroom, video, toolbox talk, or similar (hands-on not strictly required for this level)

2. Training for designated fire-fighting employees

• Employees assigned to use extinguishers as part of an emergency action plan
• Training in the actual equipment they will use
• Required when first assigned and at least annually
• This is the level where hands-on practice is expected

Exception

If the workplace policy is total evacuation and extinguishers are not intended for employee use, OSHA education/training under 1910.157(g) generally does not apply. The extinguishers still must be inspected and maintained.