The training rule that covers your staff
If your business provides portable extinguishers for employees to use, OSHA rule 29 CFR 1910.157(g) says those employees must be trained, both when they're first hired and at least once a year after that. Keep a list of who attended. A tagged extinguisher only helps if someone nearby knows how to use it.
What a training session covers
Sessions usually happen at your workplace. That way people practice with the same units that hang in their own halls, shops and offices, and they learn where each one is mounted. Most mix a short talk with hands-on practice.
- How to read the gauge and label.
- The five classes: A for ordinary combustibles, B for flammable liquids, C for energized electrical equipment, D for combustible metals and K for cooking oils and fats.
- PASS: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, sweep side to side.
- When to leave the fire and get out.
- The monthly visual check the owner does between annual service visits.
Kitchens need extra attention. A commercial kitchen with a suppression system also needs a Class K extinguisher, and the cooks should know it's the one to grab when oil or grease catches fire. Our Van Nuys kitchen fire system service page covers the system itself.
Van Nuys is served by LAFD
Van Nuys is part of the City of Los Angeles. LA County Fire doesn't cover it. The Los Angeles Fire Department responds here through its Valley Bureau. If your business needs an LAFD Fire & Life Safety Inspection Clearance, the Fire Prevention Bureau's Valley Public Safety Unit handles those for Van Nuys at 818-374-1110; call ahead and confirm what they'll expect from your extinguishers.
Your extinguishers still need their yearly service
Training and yearly service are separate jobs. Under NFPA 10 and California's Title 19 rules, a certified technician maintains each unit once a year and records the work on a tag hung on the extinguisher. Most of the calls we get from Van Nuys are about extinguishers. A common question is whether a unit needs a recharge or a full service. For that work, see annual extinguisher certification in Van Nuys and Van Nuys extinguisher refills.
Who does the work and how to book
California work for 1 Pro Fire is done by Hedrick Fire Protection. Hedrick holds C-16 (fire protection) and C-10 (electrical) contractor licenses and is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service.
To book training, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com. Tell us your headcount. Mention any kitchen.
Our Van Nuys fire protection services page lists everything else we do here, and we have training pages for fire extinguisher training in Los Angeles County and fire extinguisher training in Orange County too.
Van Nuys extinguisher training questions
How often do employees need extinguisher training?
At hire, and at least once a year after that, when you provide extinguishers for employees to use. That's OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g).
Is it cheaper to recharge an extinguisher or buy a new one?
It depends on the unit. A dry chemical extinguisher close to its 6-year teardown or 12-year hydrostatic test may cost more to keep than to replace, so have a technician look at it first.
Do we still need training if our extinguishers are tagged?
Yes, if staff are expected to use them. The tag covers the equipment, and training covers the people.
Which fire department serves Van Nuys?
The Los Angeles Fire Department, through its Valley Bureau. Van Nuys is a Los Angeles neighborhood.