What should employers do to

protect workers from fire hazards?

Employers should train workers about fire

hazards in the workplace and about what to

do in a fire emergency. If you want your workers

to evacuate, you should train them on how to

escape. If you expect your workers to use

firefighting equipment, you should give them

appropriate equipment and train them to use

the equipment safely. (See Title 29 of the Code

of Federal Regulations Part 1910 Subparts E

and L; and Part 1926 Subparts C and F.)

What does OSHA require

for emergency fire exits?

Every workplace must have enough exits

suitably located to enable everyone to get out

of the facility quickly. Considerations include

the type of structure, the number of persons

exposed, the fire protection available, the type

of industry involved, and the height and type

of construction of the building or structure.

In addition, fire doors must not be blocked or

locked when employees are inside. Delayed

opening of fire doors, however, is permitted

when an approved alarm system is integrated

into the fire door design. Exit routes from

buildings must be free of obstructions and

properly marked with exit signs. See 29 CFR

Part 1910.36 for details about all requirements.

Do employers have to provide

portable fire extinguishers?

No. But if you do, you must establish an

educational program to familiarize your workers

with the general principles of fire extinguisher

use. If you expect your workers to use portable

fire extinguishers, you must provide hands-on

training in using this equipment. For details, see

29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart L.

Must employers develop

emergency action plans?

Not every employer is required to have an

emergency action plan. OSHA standards that

require such plans include the following:

■ Process Safety Management of Highly

Hazardous Chemicals, 1910.119

■ Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General,

1910.160

■ Fire Detection Systems, 1910.164

■ Grain Handling, 1910.272

■ Ethylene Oxide, 1910.1047

■ Methylenedianiline, 1910.1050

■ 1,3 Butadiene, 1910.1051

When required, employers must develop

emergency action plans that:

■ Describe the routes for workers to use and

procedures to follow.

■ Account for all evacuated employees.

■ Remain available for employee review.

■ Include procedures for evacuating disabled

employees.

■ Address evacuation of employees who stay

behind to shut down critical plant equipment.

■ Include preferred means of alerting employees

to a fire emergency.

■ Provide for an employee alarm system

throughout the workplace.

■ Require an alarm system that includes voice

communication or sound signals such as bells,

whistles, or horns.

■ Make the evacuation signal known to

employees.

■ Ensure emergency training.

■ Require employer review of the plan with new

employees and with all employees whenever

the plan is changed.

Must employers have

a fire prevention plan?

OSHA standards that require fire prevention

plans include the following:

■ Ethylene Oxide, 1910.1047

■ Methylenedianiline, 1910.1050

■ 1,3 Butadiene, 1910.1051

Employers covered by these standards must

implement plans to minimize the frequency of

evacuations. All fire prevention plans must:

■ Be available for employee review.
2002

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not impose

any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations,

refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals

upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693–1999. See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

■ Include housekeeping procedures for storage

and cleanup of flammable materials and

flammable waste.

■ Address handling and packaging of flammable

waste. (Recycling of flammable waste such as

paper is encouraged.)

■ Cover procedures for controlling workplace

ignition sources such as smoking, welding,

and burning.

■ Provide for proper cleaning and maintenance

of heat producing equipment such as burners,

heat exchangers, boilers, ovens, stoves, and

fryers and require storage of flammables away

from this equipment.

■ Inform workers of the potential fire hazards

of their jobs and plan procedures.

■ Require plan review with all new employees

and with all employees whenever the plan

is changed.

What are the rules for fixed

extinguishing systems?

Fixed extinguishing systems throughout the

workplace are among the most reliable fire

fighting tools. These systems detect fires, sound

an alarm, and send water to the fire and heat.

To meet OSHA standards employers who have

these systems must:

■ Substitute (temporarily) a fire watch of trained

employees to respond to fire emergencies

when a fire suppression system is out of service.

■ Ensure that the watch is included in the fire

prevention plan and the emergency action plan.

■ Post signs for systems that use agents

(e.g., carbon dioxide, Halon 1211, etc.)

posing a serious health hazard.

How can you get more information

on safety and health?

OSHA has various publications, standards,

technical assistance, and compliance tools to

help you, and offers extensive assistance through

workplace consultation, voluntary protection

programs, strategic partnerships, alliances, state

plans, grants, training, and education. OSHA’s

Safety and Health Program Management

Guidelines (Federal Register 54:3904–3916,

January 26, 1989) detail elements critical to the

development of a successful safety and health

management system. This and other information

are available on OSHA’s website.

■ For one free copy of OSHA publications,

send a self-addressed mailing label to OSHA

Publications Office, 200 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., N-3101, Washington, DC 20210; or

send a request to our fax at (202) 693–2498,

or call us at (202) 693–1888.

■ To order OSHA publications online at

www.osha.gov, go to Publications and

follow the instructions for ordering.

■ To file a complaint by phone, report an

emergency, or get OSHA advice, assistance,

or products, contact your nearest OSHA

office under the U.S. Department of

Labor listing in your phone book, or call

toll-free at (800) 321–OSHA (6742).

The teletypewriter (TTY) number is

(877) 889–5627.

■ To file a complaint online or obtain more

information on OSHA federal and state

programs, visit OSHA’s website.