Should employees evacuate or be prepared to fight a small fire?
Choosing to evacuate the workplace rather than providing fire extinguishers for employee use in fighting fires will most effectively minimize the potential for fire-related injuries to employees. In addition, training employees to use fire extinguishers and maintaining them requires considerable resources. However, other factors, such as the availability of a public fire department or the vulnerability of egress routes, will enter into this decision.
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4 |
| Total evacuation of employees from the workplace immediately when alarm sounds. No one is authorized to use available portable fire extinguishers. | Designated employees are authorized to use portable fire extinguishers to fight fires. All other employees must evacuate workplace immediately when alarm sounds. | All employees are authorized to use portable fire extinguishers to fight fires. | Extinguishers are provided but not intended for employee use. |
| Requirement | Requirement | Requirement | Requirement |
| Establish an emergency action plan, fire prevention plan and train employees accordingly. Extinguishers are not existing and not required [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(1)]. | Establish an emergency action plan and train employees accordingly. Meet all general fire extinguisher requirements plus annually train designated employees to use fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers in the workplace must be inspected, tested, and maintained [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2)]. | If any employees will be evacuating, establish an emergency action plan and train employees accordingly. Meet all general fire extinguisher requirements plus annually train all employees to use fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers in the workplace must be inspected, tested, and maintained [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2)]. | Establish an emergency action plan, fire prevention plan and train employees accordingly. If fire extinguishers are left in the workplace, they must be inspected, tested, and maintained. Extinguishers are provided but not intended for employee use [29 CFR 1910.157(a)] |