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Fire Extinguishers: Putting Out The Fire

25 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety Training29 CFR 1910.157 - Portable Fire Extinguishers
Quick Answer

Fire Extinguishers: Putting Out The Fire is a 25-minute online course that teaches employees how to identify fire classes, select the correct extinguisher, and use the P.A.S.S. technique as required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.157. It is designed for all employees in workplaces that provide portable fire extinguishers and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.157(g) is clear: if you provide portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, you must also provide an educational program covering the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards of incipient-stage firefighting. This training must be provided upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter. Employees designated to use extinguishers as part of an emergency action plan require additional hands-on training. Failure to train employees on fire extinguisher use is a citable violation - with serious penalties up to $16,550 and willful violations reaching $165,514.

This course prepares your employees to respond effectively when a small fire breaks out. It covers the five classes of fire (A, B, C, D, and K), how to match the correct extinguisher to each fire type, and the P.A.S.S. technique for safe and effective extinguisher operation. Your team will also learn how to evaluate whether a fire is safe to fight or whether immediate evacuation is the right call - a critical judgment that prevents small incidents from becoming catastrophic ones.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA fire extinguisher training requirements under 29 CFR 1910.157(g)
  • Five classes of fire - Class A, B, C, D, and K - and their fuel sources
  • Types of fire extinguishers and how to match them to fire classes
  • The P.A.S.S. technique - Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
  • How to evaluate whether a fire is safe to fight or requires immediate evacuation
  • Monthly inspection requirements and annual maintenance under OSHA standards
  • Fire prevention strategies and housekeeping practices that reduce fire risk

Who Needs This Training

  • All employees in workplaces where portable fire extinguishers are provided for use
  • Employees designated as fire response personnel in the emergency action plan
  • Office workers, retail staff, and warehouse employees who may encounter incipient fires
  • Kitchen and food service employees exposed to grease and cooking fire hazards
  • Facility managers and maintenance staff responsible for fire extinguisher placement and inspection
  • Safety managers documenting annual fire safety compliance training

Regulatory Background

OSHA's portable fire extinguisher standard (29 CFR 1910.157) requires employers who provide fire extinguishers for employee use to deliver an educational program covering general principles of extinguisher use and the hazards of incipient-stage firefighting. Under 1910.157(g)(2), this education must be provided upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter. Employees specifically designated to use extinguishers as part of an emergency action plan must receive hands-on training under 1910.157(g)(3). Employers who choose a total evacuation policy and do not provide extinguishers for employee use are exempt from these training requirements but must still comply with emergency action plan requirements under 29 CFR 1910.38. Penalties for non-compliance with fire safety standards can reach $16,550 for serious violations and $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. The National Fire Protection Association reports that workplaces with properly positioned and maintained fire extinguishers combined with trained personnel experience significantly higher success rates in containing small fires before they spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Under 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2), employers who provide portable fire extinguishers for employee use must provide education upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter. This applies to all employees who may use an extinguisher. Employees designated as fire responders in the emergency action plan have additional hands-on training requirements under 1910.157(g)(3).
Online training satisfies the educational component required by 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1), which covers general principles of extinguisher use and incipient-stage fire hazards. However, employees designated to use extinguishers as part of an emergency action plan also need hands-on training under 1910.157(g)(3). OSHA defines training in this context as instruction that includes hands-on practice with equipment. Employers should supplement this online course with a practical component for designated responders.
OSHA draws a distinction in 29 CFR 1910.155. Education is the process of imparting knowledge or skill through instruction - which this online course provides. Training is the process of making employees proficient through instruction and hands-on practice with equipment. All employees need education; designated fire responders need both education and hands-on training.
Yes, but with conditions. Under 29 CFR 1910.157(a), employers who establish a written fire safety policy requiring immediate total evacuation and who meet the emergency action plan (1910.38) and fire prevention plan (1910.39) requirements are exempt from 1910.157 requirements - but only if extinguishers are not provided for employee use. If extinguishers are present and accessible to employees, training is required regardless of the evacuation policy.
OSHA requires monthly visual inspections under 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2) and annual maintenance checks performed by a certified technician under 1910.157(e)(3). The annual maintenance must be documented, and records must be retained for at least one year after the last entry. Hydrostatic testing is required at intervals ranging from 5 to 12 years depending on the extinguisher type.
$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$24.95
per person