Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(viii): Portable fire extinguishers were not inspected periodically and maintained in accordance with maintenance and use of portable fire extinguishers, N.F.P.A. No. 10A-1970: Location: 341 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10199 On or about: May 13, 2020 Badger WP-61 Water Stored Pressure Fire Extinguishers were not inspected and maintained in accordance with N.F.P.A. No. 10A-1970. Employees were recharging the fire extinguishers when one ruptured, resulting in the death of one employee and the hospitalization of another: (a) Employees were instructed by the employer to recharge the fire extinguishers by using the extinguisher gauge as an indicator of charge pressure, instead of regulating the pressure at the source per the recharge instructions on the fire extinguisher nameplate. This is not in accordance with the requirements of N.F.P.A. No. 10A - 1970, Paragraph 3410 which states that the recharging instructions on the nameplate of the fire extinguisher must be used. (b) Employees were instructed by the employer to pressurize the fire extinguishers with oxygen, rather than air or nitrogen as specified on the fire extinguisher nameplate. This is not in accordance with the requirements of N.F.P.A. No 10A - 1970, Paragraph 3430 which states that only those recharging materials specified on the extinguisher nameplate be used.