Indoor Portable Space Heater: Safe Use Policy

Policy Number: 200-32

During the cold weather months, electric portable space heaters may be used by Olympic College employees to supplement central heating and to heat one room. The purpose of this policy is to assure the safe use and function of portable space heaters being utilized on our campuses. This policy covers portable space heaters issued by Olympic College facilities services and personal space heaters brought in to Olympic College campuses by staff.

To prevent serious injury and death, the following rules must be followed:

Portable space heaters issued to staff or heaters brought to campus by staff must be thoroughly inspected by designated facilities and/or EHS personnel prior to use and annually thereafter. These inspections must be documented, and proof of inspection affixed to the unit.

  • Employees assigned a portable space heater must never lend the heater to other staff or students.
  • Portable space heaters must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Portable space heaters must have the seal of a qualified testing laboratory (e.g., UL Listed Seal) affixed to the unit.
  • Only portable space heaters with cool touch, overheat, and tip-over protection are permitted to be used on Olympic College campuses.
  • When in use, portable space heaters must be kept at least three feet away from all combustible materials, to include persons.
  • Portable space heaters must be placed on a solid, flat surface.
  • Portable space heaters must be kept out of walkways, and they must never be placed in a way as to block any means of egress.
  • The heater must be plugged directly into a wall outlet when in use. Portable space heaters must never be plugged into an extension cord or power strip.
  • The employee assigned the portable space heater must inspect the heater daily before turning it on. They must inspect the heater for malfunctions that render the unit unsafe to use.
  • If the employee using an electric, portable space heater identifies malfunctions during inspection or use, the heater must be unplugged immediately. The employee must then notify facilities so it can be removed from service and tagged out for repair or proper disposal. If the portable space heater was brought in by the employee, the employee will be responsible for removing the unit from service and should consult with facilities services to ensure proper disposal.
  • Before leaving your work area for any substantial length of time (10 minutes, or more) or when leaving work for the day, portable space heaters must be turned off and should be unplugged.
  • When not in use portable space heaters must be stored properly.
  • Maintenance and repair of portable space heaters used on campus must be carried out by authorized personnel or qualified third-party vendors only.

Violation of this policy may be grounds for removal of the portable space heater by EHS and/or designated management.

    Electric Portable Space Heater Inspection Procedures (March 10, 2023)

    Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Electric Portable Space Heater Inspection

    1. Purpose

    This inspection standard operating procedure (SOP) is to establish guidelines for inspecting electric portable space heaters to ensure they are safe on Olympic College campuses.

    2. Scope

    This SOP applies to all existing, brought in by staff, and provided by facilities electric portable space heaters used indoors on Olympic College campuses.

    3. Responsibilities

    • EHS (Environmental Health & Safety) Deputy Director: Overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining the Electric Portable Space Heater Inspection Procedures.
    • EHS technician: Responsible for coordinating and overseeing the routine testing and inspection of Electric Portable Space Heaters on OC Campuses.
    • OC employees: Responsible for submitting requests for space heater inspections of all space heaters in their use per the instruction of Environmental Health and Safety.

    4. Test and inspection

    a. Employees of Olympic college must submit request to have their OC issued or personally owned space heater tested prior to December 31st of each year to @email.

    4.1. Test and Inspection
    4.1.1. Inspection: Inspect each heater before initial use, and then at least once a year thereafter.
    • Inspect the exterior of the heater for any signs of damage, such as cracks or dents.
    • Inspect the cord for any signs of fraying, cracking, or other damage.
    • Verify that the plug is securely attached to the cord and is free of damage.
    • Verify that the power switch works correctly and is not damaged.
    • Verify that the heating elements are not bent or broken.
    • Inspect for any signs of rust, corrosion, or damage to the heating element.
    • Verify that the heating element is not in contact with any combustible material.
    • Verify that the heater has a tip-over switch that will automatically shut off the heater if it is knocked over.
    • Verify that the heater has an overheat protection feature that will turn off the heater if it gets too hot.
    • Verify that the heater has a cool-touch exterior to prevent burns.
    4.1.2. Operational test
    • Plug the heater into a wall outlet and turn it on.
    • Allow the heater to run for a few minutes and ensure that it is heating properly.
    • Once running trigger safety shut off by tipping heater over, ensuring the heater turns off.
    • Turn off the heater and unplug it.
    • Document all inspections conducted, including the date and the inspector's name.
    • Record any issues found during the inspection and the actions taken to correct them.
    • Keep all documentation on file for future reference.

    5. Non-compliance and disposal

    a. Any space heater found to be faulty or has failed the operational test or inspection will be locked out by Environmental Health and Safety to prevent use.

    b. Any space heater found to not have a current inspection tag will be locked out by Environmental Health and Safety.

    c. Only EHS Deputy Director or Technician may remove the lock out device once the heater has been determined safe to use.

    5.1. Non-Compliance
    • In case of non-compliance with this procedure, the EHS Deputy Director and EHS Technician shall be immediately notified.
    • The EHS Deputy Director and EHS Technician shall take appropriate action to address the non-compliance, which may include conducting additional testing, repairing, or replacing malfunctioning fixtures, and documenting the corrective actions taken.
    5.2. Disposal
    • Do not attempt to repair or modify a defective heater.
    • For personal portable space heaters, staff should remove the defective space heater from off Olympic College campus and dispose of it offsite.
    • If a heater is found to be defective or damaged beyond repair, dispose of it according to the manufacturer's recommendations or local regulations.
    • For Olympic College owned portable space heaters, the staff who was assigned the space heater must complete a work order requesting that the space heater be retrieved and recycled by facilities services.

    Recommended by EHS Manager, David Keen, on October 28, 2022

    • Submitted to Sr. Facilities Officer, Chris Valverde, on October 28, 2022
    • Reviewed by Facilities and Safety Governance Council on November 1, 2022
    • Revised by EHS Manager, David Keen, on December 14, 2022
    • Reviewed by Facilities and Safety Council on December 16, 2022
    • Submitted to Governance Coordinating Council on January 13, 2023
    • Revised and Re-submitted to Governance Coordinating Council on January 27, 2023
    • Approved by Governance Coordinating Council on
    • Submitted to the President on
    • Approved by President on
    • Submitted to Board of Trustees on
    • Approved by Board of Trustees on