Portable fire extinguishers – Oregon

Related information:

• Fire extinguishers - ezExplanation

Citations:

• Oregon: OAR 437-002-0187 (General OSHA rules: Portable fire extinguishers); OAR 437-002-0042 (Emergency Action Plan); OAR 437-002-0043 (Fire Prevention Plan)
• Federal: 29 CFR 1910.157

Summary of additional requirements:

Employers must provide functional portable fire extinguishers and ensure that their employees know when and how to use them safely.

Exemptions: Employers are exempt from these rules if:

• Their portable fire extinguishers are not accessible to employees;
• They have a written fire safety policy that requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees in the event of fire; and
• They have an emergency action plan and fire prevention plan that conform to OAR 437-002-0042 and 437-002-0043.

Partial exemption: If extinguishers are present and accessible, but the employer does not intend for employees to use them, and the employer has an emergency action plan and fire prevention plan, then the employing training requirements below do not apply.

Providing extinguishers. If an employer provides extinguishers, they must:

• Never provide or allow the use of extinguishers with dangerous or banned agents like carbon tetrachloride or chlorobromomethane.
• Never provide or allow the use of soda-acid foam, loaded stream, anti-freeze and water (inverting type) extinguishers. (See the latest NFPA 10 for a complete list of obsolete or banned extinguishers.)
• Provide and place the correct type and size fire extinguisher according to Table 1 (provided by the agency). This only applies to extinguishers for use inside buildings.
• Mount extinguishers in a manner appropriate for their type and location.
• Not allow extinguishers to sit on the floor, shelves or furniture.
• Use appropriate signs or other unique markings to identify extinguisher locations.
• Never block access to extinguishers.
• Exemption: The employer is exempt from the maximum travel distance requirements if they have an emergency action plan that complies with OAR 437-002-0042, designating which employees are authorized to use the available fire extinguishers and requiring all other employees to evacuate.

Inspection and maintenance. An employer must:

• Visually inspect each extinguisher monthly.
• Be sure the extinguishers have a full charge and no defects that prevent effective use.
• Remove and replace any extinguisher that is not fully operable.
• Complete annual maintenance on each extinguisher using only persons or companies acceptable to your local fire authorities.
• Keep a record of the annual maintenance until replaced by a new record. The record must be available to OR-OSHA on request.
• Provide replacement extinguishers or some method of coverage for the affected area while extinguishers are out of service for the maintenance check.
• Do internal examinations at intervals not longer than the requirements set in Table 2 (provided by the agency), using only persons or companies acceptable to local fire authorities.
• Nonrechargeable extinguishers are good for 12 years from the date of manufacture and then must be taken out of service.
• Note: Nonrechargeable extinguishers do not require internal examinations or hydrostatic testing.

Hydrostatic testing. An employer must:

• Assure a hydrostatic test of each extinguisher at intervals in Table 3 (available from the agency) or when the extinguisher shows corrosion or physical damage.
• Use only persons or companies acceptable to local fire authorities to do hydrostatic testing.
• Empty and do applicable maintenance every six years on stored pressure extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test. This six-year requirement begins again after recharging or hydrostatic testing.
• Keep a record of the hydrostatic test until it is replaced by a new record or the extinguisher is no longer in use. The record must have at least the date of test, test pressure, serial number of the extinguisher (or other unique identifier), and the person or company doing the test.

Employee training. The employer must train employees in the safe use of extinguishers and standpipe hoses when you require or allow their use. Training must be at first hiring and then annually and must include:

• The general methods and tactics of using an extinguisher.
• The hazards of using an extinguisher on early stage fires.
• Hazards associated with using standpipe hoses.