Monthly Inspections of Fire Extinguishers and First Aid Kits

12/7/2020

As part of last weeks’ Safety Message, it was mentioned that the new month was approaching and that our projects needed to check fire extinguishers and first aid kits.  What are we inspecting? And what is the ultimate purpose of checking these items? After all, we are not testing our fire extinguishers to see if they work! And as far as first aid kits go, what are we really inspecting?  

Inspecting these items serve a vital role. However, if all we do is check to see if the fire extinguisher gauge shows the needle pointing in the green while merely checking that a first aid kit is on site without verifying the necessary items are present, we are doing our project and fellow workers a disservice.     

Once we have verified that our fire extinguishers are not damaged and are properly filled (verified through the gauge), we need to make sure that the nozzle is clear of debris and the handle has its pin intact with a break-away (plastic) tie secured. This ensures that the fire extinguisher will not accidentally activate due to inadvertent pressure placed on the handle. This can happen by someone accidentally handling the fire extinguisher by the handle or poor placement when the pin has been removed. The plastic tie ensures that the pin remains secure.

One item that we need to note on our fire extinguishers is the annual inspection date. This is generally located at the neck of the fire extinguisher and/or as a label fixed on the side of the bottle.  Annual inspections (and their inspection tags) are performed by a company that specializes in this service. If you notice that the annual inspection sticker has a date that is past due or missing, it is necessary to contact your fire extinguisher inspection company.  One other necessary test is a hydrostatic test. This is designed to ensure the fire extinguisher can maintain certain pressures that the fire extinguisher may be subject to.  Hydrostatic testing is performed either every 5 or 12 years; depending on the type of fire extinguisher. And while this test is also listed on the fire extinguisher, hydrostatic testing would be the responsibility of your inspection company.

While OSHA has a regulation that addresses first aid kits – 29 CFR 1910.151 “Medical Services and First Aid” – it lacks any specificity with regard to what items are required to be included, merely stating, “Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.” And while this regulation does have a section (Appendix A, “First Aid Kits”) that specifies the minimum first aid supplies by referencing the American National Standards Institute Standard (ANSI), Z308.1, “Minimum Requirements for Workplace First-aid Kits),” OSHA lists this section as non-mandatory.  

So, having a first aid kit that does not comply with the ANSI Standard, would not be considered an OSHA violation. At the same time, the Department of Defense (i.e. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Navy, etc.) does require that first aid kits meet the requirements established in ANSI Z308.1.  This requirement is presented in the Army Corps of Engineers Manual, EM 385-1-1. Meanwhile, depending on the specific Department of Energy Site, complying to ANSI Z308.1 would be specified as a specific contract requirement.

Regardless of meeting a specific regulatory requirement, through my tenure as a S&H professional, I have complied, what I believe to be a practical list of supplies that would make an effective kit:

Without a doubt, we all can think of other items that can be added. This list is based on previous and ongoing observations and is subject to a projects’ specific needs.

Regardless of what you may or may not have in your first aid kit and how well fire extinguishers are maintained, if these items are not placed in accessible locations, their efficacy can be dramatically reduced. In addition, checking the items in your first aid kit is very important as you do not want to start rummaging for items when a coworker may need first aid treatment.  Likewise, keeping a fire extinguisher within the immediate work area is a prudent practice as once a fire starts, it can spread very quickly, as an uncontrolled fire will double in size every 45 to 60 seconds. So, trying to find a fire extinguisher and fumbling to remove it from its mount, may be the difference between controlling a fire or having it expand to an uncontrolled disaster.

As we get ready to start each day and inspect our work sites and as subcontractors examine their equipment, it is paramount to ensure we know where our first aid kits and fire extinguishers are located so we may use these tools as soon as possible in the event they need to be used, thereby minimizing the effects of a workplace incident. 

However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at

Stephen Hawking