Must a log be kept of inspections of fire extinguishers?

OSHA requires at 1910.157(e)(1) that “The employer shall be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and testing of all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace.” Employers must perform both a monthly visual inspection and annual maintenance check. OSHA only requires, however, that the annual maintenance check be documented.

Even if not required by OSHA, one way to demonstrate compliance with the required monthly inspection is to document it. The agency allows employers to use whatever type of recording system, either paper or electronic, which works for their facility. Typically, inspections are recorded via a tag attached to each fire extinguisher. Also, under NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, monthly fire extinguisher inspections are required, and the consensus standard states, “This inspection shall be noted on a tag or label attached to the fire extinguisher and shall include the date of the inspection and the initials of the individual doing the inspection.”

Employers should also check with local fire authorities to determine if a tag is required under local or state fire code.