Exit Routes
Exit Routes
An exit route is a continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point within your facility or worksite to a place of safety, including assembly areas. To ensure that employees can quickly and safely evacuate in the event of an emergency, exit routes must be maintained free from all obstructions and hazards. In addition, obstructed exit routes are an easy target for OSHA as demonstrated by Dollar General’s recent $12 million settlement with OSHA, which stemmed from multiple occurrences of blocked exits, among other violations.
Exit Route Inspections
To avoid costly citations and ensure that employees can safely and efficiently exit the workplace during an emergency, exit routes should be regularly inspected to ensure the following:
All doors within each exit route must remain unlocked from the inside at all times.
Exit routes must be kept free of explosive or highly flammable materials.
Exit routes must be kept free from any and all permanent and temporary obstructions, including carts or toolboxes (even if they are on wheels).
Exit routes must be equipped with adequate lighting.
Each exit must be clearly visible and marked by an illuminated sign reading “Exit.”
Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that block the visibility of the door.
The line-of-sight to an exit sign must be clearly visible at all times.
If the direction of travel to an exit is not immediately obvious, signs must be posted along the exit route to indicate the direction of travel to the nearest exit.
Each doorway or passage along an exit route that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked with a sign reading “Not an Exit,” or with a sign identifying its use (such as “Closet” or “Mechanical Room”).
Additional Reminders
If an unsafe condition within an exit route cannot be immediately corrected, the hazard must be guarded to prevent potential injury and provide adequate notice to others. You should then report the unsafe condition to your manager as soon as possible.
