Free OSHA Workplace Fire Safety Checklist
Check your workplace against key OSHA requirements for emergency action plans, fire prevention, fire extinguishers, exit routes and employee training — then see your readiness report and get the free printable inspection checklist by email. OSHA fire-safety requirements vary by workplace and the hazards present; this page shows you what to verify and where each rule comes from.
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OSHA Fire Safety Requirements at a Glance
OSHA's general-industry fire-safety framework spans several standards. Which ones apply depends on your workplace and its hazards.
Don't know which apply to you?
Free OSHA Fire Safety Inspection Checklist
A printable 20-point inspection checklist covering extinguishers, alarms, exit routes, housekeeping, drills, and training — emailed to you instantly.
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How Fire-Safe Is Your Workplace?
Answer 12 quick questions to get your Fire Safety Readiness Score — then get a personalized report showing exactly what to fix and which OSHA rule each item comes from. Choose N/A for anything that doesn't apply to your workplace; it won't count against your score.
0 of 12 answered — answer all 12 to see your score.
OSHA Emergency Action Plan Requirements
An Emergency Action Plan under 29 CFR 1910.38 is required when a particular OSHA standard requires one. Where it applies, these are the minimum elements it may need to address.
Reporting emergencies
Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency — how to raise the alarm and who to notify. 1910.38(c)(1).
Evacuation procedures and route assignments
The type of evacuation and exit route assignments, so every employee knows when to evacuate and which way to go. 1910.38(c)(2).
Critical operations
Procedures for employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate. 1910.38(c)(3).
Accounting for employees
Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation — assembly points and head counts. 1910.38(c)(4).
Rescue and medical duties
Procedures for employees performing rescue or medical duties under the plan. 1910.38(c)(5).
Plan contacts
The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted for more information about the plan or their duties under it. 1910.38(c)(6).
Do I need a written EAP?
Where the EAP requirement applies, employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally rather than keeping a written plan (1910.38(b)). Larger employers need the plan in writing, kept in the workplace, and available for employees to review.
OSHA Fire Prevention Plan Requirements
A Fire Prevention Plan under 29 CFR 1910.39 is required when an OSHA standard requires one. Where it applies, verify these minimum elements:
📝 Minimum plan elements — 1910.39(c)
- Major fire hazards identified, with handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials
- Potential ignition sources identified and their controls documented
- Fire-protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard identified
- Procedures for controlling accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials
- Procedures for regular maintenance of heat-producing equipment to prevent accidental ignition
- Name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment that prevents or controls ignition
- Name or job title of employees responsible for controlling fuel source hazards
🏠 Housekeeping that supports the plan
Good housekeeping is the most visible fire-prevention control an inspector sees:
- Flammable liquids stored in approved containers and cabinets (see 1910.106)
- Combustible dust accumulation controlled in processing areas
- Oily rags and combustible scrap disposed of regularly in proper containers
- Clear access maintained to extinguishers and suppression equipment
- Electrical equipment maintained — no frayed cords or overloaded circuits
OSHA Fire Extinguisher Requirements & Inspection Checklist
29 CFR 1910.157 covers selection, placement, inspection, maintenance, testing, and training for portable fire extinguishers provided in the workplace.
Placement & Distribution
Extinguishers must be readily accessible:
- Class A hazards: travel distance of 75 feet or less
- Class B hazards: travel distance of 50 feet or less
- Mounted, located, and identified so they are readily accessible
- Access kept clear and unobstructed at all times
- Identified with signage where not immediately visible
Monthly Inspection
Visual check required monthly — verify:
- Extinguisher in its designated place
- Pressure gauge in the operable range
- Pin and tamper seal intact
- No visible damage, corrosion, or leakage
- Nozzle and hose unobstructed
- Logging the check is a best practice — dated records are required for the annual maintenance check
Annual Maintenance & Testing
Beyond the monthly visual check:
- Annual maintenance check on each extinguisher, with dated records
- 6-year internal examination for applicable stored-pressure types
- Hydrostatic testing at intervals based on extinguisher type
- Damaged or discharged units removed and replaced immediately
Employee Training
Where extinguishers are provided for employee use:
- Education on general use and incipient-stage fire hazards at initial assignment
- Refreshed at least annually
- Designated emergency-plan users trained on the equipment itself
- PASS technique: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
- Knowing when to fight vs. when to evacuate
Extinguisher Types
Match the extinguisher to the hazard:
- Class A: ordinary combustibles (paper, wood, cloth)
- Class B: flammable liquids (gasoline, oil, grease)
- Class C: energized electrical equipment
- Class D: combustible metals
- Class K: commercial cooking oils and fats
- ABC multipurpose: common choice for offices
Printable Inspection Checklist
Get the free printable fire safety inspection checklist — extinguisher mounting, charge, tag, and access checks included.
OSHA Exit Route & Emergency Exit Requirements
Exit routes under 1910.36–1910.37 must be adequate in number and capacity, kept clear, and clearly marked.
🚪 Core exit-route rules
- At least two exit routes normally required, located as remotely from each other as practical (1910.36(b))
- Exit routes must be permanent parts of the workplace
- Minimum width of 28 inches at all points along the exit access (1910.36(g))
- Exit doors must be unlocked from the inside — no keys, tools, or special knowledge to open (1910.36(d))
- Side-hinged exit doors required; doors must swing out in the direction of travel where the room is occupied by more than 50 people or holds high-hazard contents (1910.36(e))
- Routes kept free and unobstructed at all times — no storage or equipment (1910.37(a)(3))
- Adequate lighting for employees with normal vision, and each exit clearly visible and marked (1910.37(b))
Exit signs have their own detailed rules for lettering size, illumination, and placement — see our dedicated guide: OSHA Exit Sign Requirements: Size, Lighting & Placement.
Does OSHA Require Fire Drills?
Federal OSHA does not impose one universal fire-drill frequency for all general-industry workplaces. Drill obligations and frequency can depend on the applicable OSHA standard, your industry, state and local fire codes, occupancy type, and insurance requirements.
What OSHA does require: plan training
Where 1910.38 applies, employers must review the Emergency Action Plan with each employee — when the plan is developed or the employee is first assigned, when the employee's responsibilities under the plan change, and when the plan itself changes. That is a training requirement, not a mandated recurring drill schedule.
Where drill schedules actually come from
Recurring fire-drill frequencies are typically set by state or local fire codes and the authority having jurisdiction, and vary by occupancy — which is why healthcare facilities, schools, and high-hazard operations commonly drill far more often than offices. Check your local fire code before assuming an annual drill is enough — or that one is required at all.
Why drill anyway
A drill is the only realistic test of your plan: whether the alarm is heard everywhere, whether routes stay clear, how long evacuation takes, and whether accountability at the assembly point actually works. Document every drill and the corrective actions it surfaces.
What to Record for Every Fire Drill
Documenting each drill is how you prove your plan gets tested. Capture these fields in your drill log:
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Workplace Fire Safety Training Requirements
Several OSHA fire-safety training duties apply where the underlying standards apply.
Emergency Action Plan training
Review the plan with each employee at initial assignment, when their responsibilities change, and when the plan changes (1910.38(f)). Designate and train employees who will assist in a safe and orderly evacuation.
Fire Prevention Plan awareness
Inform employees of the fire hazards they are exposed to and review with each employee the parts of the plan necessary for self-protection (1910.39(d)).
Extinguisher education
Where extinguishers are provided for employee use: education on general use and incipient-stage hazards at initial assignment and at least annually; hands-on equipment training for designated users (1910.157(g)).
Document everything
Keep dates, topics, trainer, and attendee records for every session — plus drill reports and extinguisher maintenance records. Organized records are your first line of defense in an inspection.
10 Workplace Fire Safety Gaps to Check Today
These are the gaps that show up over and over in real workplaces — most take minutes to spot.
Missing or incomplete emergency planning
No Emergency Action Plan where one applies, or a plan missing required elements like accountability procedures.
Employees don't know evacuation routes
Routes exist on paper but were never communicated, posted, or practiced.
Exit paths obstructed
Storage, pallets, carts, or equipment blocking exit routes and exit doors.
Fire extinguishers inaccessible
Extinguishers blocked, missing from their bracket, or hidden with no identification signage.
Monthly extinguisher inspections missed
No monthly visual checks happening — and no dated records of the required annual maintenance checks.
Fire hazards not documented
Major fire hazards and their handling procedures never listed in a Fire Prevention Plan.
Ignition sources not controlled
Hot work, smoking areas, and electrical issues without written control procedures.
Combustible waste accumulation
Oily rags, packaging, and scrap building up near heat sources.
Employees don't know assembly procedures
No designated assembly point, or no head-count procedure once people get there.
Emergency map is outdated after layout changes
Walls moved, exits changed, or equipment relocated — but the posted map still shows the old layout.
How many does your workplace have?
What Should an Emergency Evacuation Map Show?
OSHA's evacuation-planning guidance describes workplace maps built from floor diagrams that show exit routes — and can include exits, assembly points, and emergency equipment such as extinguishers, first-aid kits, and spill kits.
Need an Evacuation Map?
Turn your floor plan, photo, or hand sketch into an editable evacuation-map draft.
Fire Safety Requirements by Workplace
Different environments carry different fire risks. See the considerations for yours.
Workplace Fire Safety FAQ
What are OSHA's workplace fire safety requirements?
OSHA fire-safety requirements vary by workplace and the hazards present. The key general-industry standards cover Emergency Action Plans (29 CFR 1910.38), Fire Prevention Plans (1910.39), exit routes (1910.36-1910.37), portable fire extinguishers (1910.157), and fixed extinguishing systems (1910.160) — where those provisions apply to your operations. A fire-safety review should check which standards apply, then verify your plans, equipment, exit routes, and training against them.
Do I need an OSHA fire safety checklist?
OSHA does not mandate a specific checklist format, but a structured checklist is the most practical way to verify your workplace against the applicable requirements — emergency planning, fire prevention, extinguisher inspections, exit routes, and training — and to document that you checked. Our free 20-point fire safety inspection checklist organizes these checks by OSHA standard so nothing gets missed.
Does OSHA require a Fire Prevention Plan?
A Fire Prevention Plan under 29 CFR 1910.39 is required when a particular OSHA standard requires one — it is not a universal requirement for every workplace. Where it applies, the plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace, and made available to employees; employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally instead. Minimum elements include major fire hazards, handling and storage procedures, ignition source controls, fire protection equipment, combustible waste control, heat-producing equipment maintenance, and responsible personnel.
Does OSHA require an Emergency Action Plan?
An Emergency Action Plan under 29 CFR 1910.38 is required when a particular OSHA standard requires one. Where it applies, the plan must cover reporting procedures, evacuation policy and exit route assignments, procedures for employees who remain to operate critical operations, accounting for all employees after evacuation, rescue and medical duties, and contacts for plan questions. Employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally rather than keeping a written plan.
Does OSHA require fire drills?
Federal OSHA does not impose one universal fire-drill frequency for general-industry workplaces. OSHA requires employers covered by 1910.38 to train employees on the Emergency Action Plan — when the plan is developed, when an employee is first assigned, when responsibilities change, and when the plan changes. Recurring drill schedules typically come from state or local fire codes, your industry, occupancy type, and insurance requirements, which is why healthcare, schools, and high-hazard facilities often drill more frequently. Drills are strongly recommended as the practical way to test your plan.
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected?
Under OSHA 1910.157, covered portable fire extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly and given a maintenance check at least annually. Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test must be emptied and internally examined every 6 years, and hydrostatic testing is required at intervals that depend on the extinguisher type. Keep dated records of the annual maintenance checks.
What should an evacuation map show?
OSHA's evacuation-planning guidance describes workplace maps built from floor diagrams that show exit routes and can include exit locations, outdoor assembly points, and emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and spill kits. A useful map also includes a 'You Are Here' marker matched to where the map is posted, and both a primary and secondary route from that location.
Are evacuation maps required by OSHA?
Federal OSHA does not have a universal rule requiring every employer to post a specific evacuation-map format. However, where an Emergency Action Plan is required, it must address evacuation procedures and exit route assignments, and OSHA's own guidance notes that employers often use workplace maps showing routes, exits, assembly points, and emergency equipment to communicate the plan. State and local fire codes or your authority having jurisdiction may separately require posted maps for your occupancy.
How many fire extinguishers does my workplace need?
It depends on your floor area, layout, and hazard classes. OSHA 1910.157 requires extinguishers to be distributed so that the travel distance for employees to reach one is 75 feet or less for Class A hazards and 50 feet or less for Class B hazards, with selection based on the types of fires anticipated. Extinguishers must be mounted, located, and identified so they are readily accessible without subjecting employees to injury.
Who must receive fire extinguisher training?
Where an employer provides portable fire extinguishers for employee use, OSHA 1910.157(g) requires an educational program on general extinguisher use and the hazards of incipient-stage firefighting — upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter. Employees designated to use extinguishers under an emergency plan must receive training on the equipment itself on the same schedule.
What records should I keep for fire safety?
Keep records of employee training on your Emergency Action Plan and Fire Prevention Plan (dates, topics, attendees), annual fire extinguisher maintenance checks, fire drill reports (date, evacuation time, problems found, corrective actions), alarm and suppression system tests, and hot-work permits where applicable. Organized records are one of the first things reviewed in an inspection.
What OSHA standards cover workplace fire safety?
The core general-industry standards are 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E (Exit Routes and Emergency Planning: 1910.36 and 1910.37 for exit routes, 1910.38 Emergency Action Plans, 1910.39 Fire Prevention Plans) and Subpart L (Fire Protection: 1910.157 portable extinguishers, 1910.158-1910.163 standpipe and fixed systems, 1910.164-1910.165 detection and alarm systems). Related standards like 1910.106 (flammable liquids) also matter in many workplaces.
Does a small business need a written Emergency Action Plan?
Where the Emergency Action Plan requirement applies, employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees instead of maintaining a written plan, under 1910.38(b). The plan content requirements still apply — employees must still know how to report a fire, evacuate, and be accounted for.
What should employees do during a workplace fire?
Follow the Emergency Action Plan: report the fire and activate the alarm, evacuate immediately by the nearest safe exit route, proceed to the designated assembly point, and stay there so everyone can be accounted for. Only employees who are trained and designated under the plan should attempt to use a fire extinguisher, and only on a small incipient-stage fire with a clear escape path behind them. Everyone else should evacuate.
What are the penalties for fire safety violations?
As of 2026, OSHA lists maximum penalties of $16,550 per serious or other-than-serious violation and up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation. Actual penalties depend on the circumstances, the employer's size and history, and the citation. Common fire-safety citations include blocked exit routes, missing or unmaintained extinguishers, and missing emergency planning or training.
How Fire-Safe Is Your Workplace?
Check your workplace against the major areas covered by OSHA fire-safety and emergency-planning requirements.
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This guide summarizes selected OSHA general-industry requirements for education. It is not legal advice, and requirements vary by workplace, hazards, and jurisdiction. Verify your obligations against the current standards and your local authority having jurisdiction.