Introduction
Emergency exits are essential safety features in any building, providing a safe and efficient way for people to evacuate during an emergency. Whether it’s a fire, natural disaster, or any other urgent situation, having clearly marked and accessible emergency exits can make all the difference in protecting lives.
Exit Routes
An exit route is a clear, continuous, and unobstructed pathway that leads from any point within the workplace to a safe area. An exit route consist of 3 parts, including:
- Exit Access: Portion of an exit route that leads to an exit
- Exit: Portion of an exit route separated from other areas to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge
- And, Exit Discharge: Leads directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge, public way, or open space with access outside
Number of Exits
In most workplaces, at least two exit routes are required to ensure a swift evacuation. However, two exits may not be enough if factors, such as the number of employees, the size of the building, or the layout of the workplace prevent safe evacuation. The number of exits should be determined based on employee occupancy and specific workplace conditions. To enhance safety, exit routes should be placed as far apart as possible to reduce the risk of being blocked by fire or smoke.
Exit Doors
Exit route doors must be easily unlocked from the inside and free of any devices or alarms that could prevent the door from functioning properly if the device or alarm fails. Side-hinged exit doors should be used to connect rooms to exit routes. These doors must swing outward if the room holds more than 50 people or is in a high-hazard area.
Safety Tips
There are a few safety tips to take into consideration, including:
- Place signs on doors to indicate emergency exits; these signs should be visible and unobstructed
- Refrain from storing or stacking materials anywhere in or near emergency exits
- Do not place extension cords or other tripping hazards near emergency exits
- Keep markings and paintings of emergency exits clean and newly coated to ensure visibility
- And, inspect emergency exits regularly
OSHA provides a FactSheet for Emergency Exit Routes.
Conclusion
Emergency exits are vital for workplace safety, offering a quick and safe way to evacuate during an emergency. Proper planning, design, and maintenance are crucial to ensuring employees and visitors can exit swiftly and safely when needed.