Fact Sheet Offers Info about Emergency Escape Routes

April 17, 2003
Knowing how to escape from your workplace during an emergency is not just another safety and health issue requiring compliance by employers and consideration by workers; it can save your life.

OSHA has developed the Emergency Exit Routes fact sheet, which is designed to ensure employers and workers understand regulations for emergency escape routes and help them evacuate the workplace safety and quickly. The fact sheet augments the agency's standard on exit routes, and emergency action and fire prevention plans.

"No one should need reminding how quickly an event can occur that necessitates emergency evacuation from the workplace," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "The information we've compiled in this fact sheet provides a readily-available tool to aid employers and workers in being prepared to safely evacuate their workplaces should an emergency occur."

Information in the fact sheet:

  • Defines exit routes
  • Explains how many exit routes a worksite should have
  • Provides information on how to design an exit route that will ensure safe evacuation for all workers
  • Offers a list of required maintenance, safeguarding and operational features for exit routes
  • Provides information on emergency action plan requirements, detailing the plan's minimum elements, such as procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies, personnel accountability, alarm systems, etc.
  • Outlines minimum provisions and requirements for fire prevention plans Gives a list of resources for more details on exit routes and related OSHA standards

OSHA recently revamped its 30-year-old standard dealing with exit routes, emergency action and fire prevention plans. The revised standard was effective on Dec. 9, 2002.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 16, 2025
This free guide will define complacency, explain individual and organizational complacency, provide insights into the contributing factors and give a high-level overview of what...
May 22, 2025
Heat stress is a serious challenge that poses immediate and long-term health effects for workers in high-temperature environments. To combat heat stress, it's critical to educate...
May 15, 2025
Foot safety is a serious concern. At your next safety meeting, give your crew eye-opening facts about feet and how proper footwear matters more than they may know. Show your team...
May 15, 2025
If reimbursing employees for safety footwear is how its always been done, maybe its time to learn about the advantages a managed footwear program can offer instead. See a ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!