What should you do to ensure a portable fire extinguisher is in working order?

To ensure a portable fire extinguisher is in working order, checking for physical damage and the date of the last inspection is crucial. This step verifies that the extinguisher has not suffered any damage that could impair its function during an emergency, such as dents, rust, or leaks. The date of the last inspection indicates whether the extinguisher has been maintained properly according to regulations and safety standards, as extinguishers require regular checks and potential servicing to ensure their effectiveness.

Regular visual inspections by the user are important, but they should specifically focus on these areas to confirm that the equipment is ready for use. Making sure that the extinguisher is in good physical condition and that inspections are up to date can save lives in a fire situation.

While annual inspections are beneficial, they are not sufficient as a standalone measure because regular visual checks should happen more frequently. Ensuring the extinguisher is filled with water may apply to certain types of extinguishers, but many others contain different agents, making this point less universally applicable. Storing the extinguisher in a cool, dry place is good practice, but it does not directly assess its operational readiness. Therefore, the best approach to confirm an extinguisher's functionality is through a