1910.157(e)(3): Annual fire extinguisher maintenance
Portable fire extinguishers must get a maintenance check every year. Stored-pressure extinguishers do not need an internal examination. The employer must record the annual maintenance date and keep the record for one year after the last entry or for the life of the shell, whichever is less, and make it available to OSHA on request.
Key takeaways
- 1910.157(e)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 1,178 times in the last 3 years, in 1,178 inspections, with $542,399 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PR (113), CT (86), VA (77).
- Related part: 1910.157(e) Inspection, maintenance and testing (2,729 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3) is one requirement inside 1910.157 Portable fire extinguishers, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart L). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(3) The employer shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check. Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination. The employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. The record shall be available to the Assistant Secretary upon request. 1,178 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.157.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.157(e)(3).
At 7:00 p.m. on November 15, 2024, an employee working as a stock handler for a staffing company was removing load locks from materials inside a tractor trailer. The employee was leaving the tractor trailer to go back into the warehouse to store the load…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 72 |
| 2024 | 424 |
| 2025 | 418 |
| 2026 | 264 |
Top states: PR (113), CT (86), VA (77), MI (77), NY (76)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DS | SAN JUAN, PR | $47,285 |
| DS | SAN JUAN, PR | $17,500 |
| DE | BAYAMON, PR | $15,000 |
| NCBPR | GUAYNABO, PR | $10,000 |
| DE | BAYAMON, PR | $10,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.157(e)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Inspecting and maintaining fire extinguishers. (1990-05-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.157(e) Inspection, maintenance and testing 2,729 citations
- 1910.157(e)(2) 1,418 citations
- 1910.157(e)(1) 117 citations
- 1910.157(e)(4) 12 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Is an annual maintenance check required?
Yes. Every portable fire extinguisher must have an annual maintenance check.
Where do we record it?
The rule requires a record of the annual maintenance date kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Many employers use the tag on the extinguisher.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.157 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.