Paragraph (e)(3) of the 1910.157 specifies that employers must subject each portable fire extinguisher
- to an annual maintenance inspection and
- record the date of the inspection.
In addition, this provision requires employers to retain the inspection record for
- one year after the last entry or
- for the life of the shell, whichever is less,
and to make the record available to OSHA on request.
This recordkeeping requirement assures workers and agency compliance officers that portable fire extinguishers located in the workplace will operate normally in case of fire; in addition, this requirement provides evidence to OSHA compliance officers during an inspection that the employer performed the required maintenance checks on the portable fire extinguishers.
