Fire Extinguisher Basics

To avoid putting workers in danger, fire extinguishers should be located throughout the workplace and readily accessible in the event of a fire. You can usually find them in hallways, meeting rooms, kitchens, mechanical /electrical rooms, and near exit doors.

Employer Responsibility:

• Providing portable fire extinguishers and mounting, locating, and identifying them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.
• Providing the correct type of fire extinguisher for the workplace. This is often times a multi-purpose fire extinguisher.
• Assuring that portable fire extinguishers are maintained, fully charged, operate properly, and are kept in designated places at all times, except during use.

Your Responsibility:

• Knowing where the fire extinguisher’s are located at your place of work.
• Knowing how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Just remember PASS:
  Pull the pin
  Aim at the base of the fire
  Squeeze the lever
  Sweep sided to side.

For more information about fire extinguisher requirements in the workplace please visit:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/portable.html