Safety Tidbit 3.36 - Exit Routes

Safety Tidbit 3.36 – Exit Routes

Reference:      OSHA Means of Egress

                        OSHA Fact Sheet – Emergency Exit Routes

OSHA states: “The number of exit routes must be adequate.” Next, they say “at least two exit routes must be available in a workplace to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency. The exit routes must be located as far away as practical from each other so that if one exit route is blocked by fire or smoke, employees can evacuate using the second exit route.” [1910.36(b)(1)]

This all makes perfect sense however, what happens when our client leases the space and it only has one exit and the only other exits are out through the adjacent areas of the building which are leased by other tenants? Furthermore, our client happens to only have 5 employees. OSHA does permit a single exit route where the number of employees, the size of the building, its occupancy, or the arrangement of the workplace is such that all employees would be able to evacuate safely during an emergency. Unfortunately, our client has an office space by the entrance (the only fire exit) and at the other end of their space they have a high hazard operation as well as all through-out their space there are potential flammables and other hazards.

Interestingly, OSHA goes on to require “exit routes must be arranged so that employees will not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel is effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers.”  Furthermore, “Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.” Also, “if the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge is not immediately apparent, signs must be posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge.”

So how do I advise my client to get a second exit? As an interim protective measure, our client must specify the emergency exit route through the part of the building they do not lease and ensure it is readily labeled and unobstructed. Our client must coordinate with the other tenants and ensure all hazards are removed from the route and that the route remains open. They need to make routine and random inspections to validate the exit route through the spaces they do not control are functional. Lastly, our client must train the employees and practice the use of the exit route as part of the emergency action plan. As a permanent fix to our dilemma, I recommended they speak to the landlord about installing a new exit in the area that our client leases, so the employees can readily evacuate if the need arises. Ultimately, the client needs to refer to NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code.

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.