Exit routes and emergency planning

An exit route is a continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point in a workplace to a place of safety. Exit routes include doors, corridors, stairways, and ramps that lead workers to a safe location outside the building and are defined and regulated under 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Make sure every employee can reach an exit route without passing through hazardous areas.
• Keep exit routes free of obstructions and properly maintained so the path remains continuous and unobstructed.

Employers must generally provide at least two exit routes so employees have an alternative way out if one route is blocked. The requirement for the number of routes and any exceptions are set out in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• A second exit reduces the chance that a single blocked route traps people inside.
• Review your facility layout against the Subpart E requirements to determine whether exceptions apply.

A single exit route is permitted only in limited situations where one exit provides a safe means of escape and meets the Subpart E requirements. The specific conditions and exceptions are described in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Whether a single exit is acceptable depends on factors such as building layout, number of occupants, and the absence of hazards that could block the route.
• If you rely on a single exit, document why it provides safe egress and be prepared to change it if operations or hazards change.

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a written or verbal plan that describes what employees must do in emergencies such as fires, explosions, or other incidents, and employers must develop and implement an EAP as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• The EAP identifies alarm systems, evacuation procedures, designated escape routes, and employees' responsibilities.
• Review and update the EAP whenever workplace conditions or personnel change; train employees on the plan and their roles.

An EAP must clearly describe the procedures for reporting emergencies, notifying employees, evacuation (including routes and exits), accounting for employees after evacuation, and assigned rescue and medical duties; 1910 Subpart E outlines these requirements (1910 Subpart E).

• Include how alarms will be given and how employees will be notified.
• Specify evacuation routes, assembly areas, and how to account for all employees.
• Identify who will perform shutdown, rescue, or medical tasks and ensure those employees are trained.

A Fire Prevention Plan documents fire hazards, procedures to control fuels and ignition sources, and the names of personnel responsible for controlling the hazards, and employers must prepare a plan as described in 1910 Subpart E when required by the applicable standards (1910 Subpart E).

• The plan should list major fire hazards, handling and storage procedures, and equipment for controlling fire sources.
• Keep the plan accessible and train employees on fire prevention measures and safe work practices.

Employees must be trained on the Emergency Action Plan when it is developed or when their responsibilities under the plan change, and training should be provided as needed to ensure they can carry out the plan; these training expectations are part of 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Provide initial training for new hires with evacuation routes and assigned duties.
• Retrain or update employees whenever procedures change or after drills reveal deficiencies.

No—exit routes must remain free of storage, obstructions, or materials that could impede escape; keeping exit routes clear is required under 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Regularly inspect corridors, stairways, and exit doors to ensure they are unobstructed.
• Remove or relocate materials immediately if they block or narrow an exit route.

Exit doors must be maintained so they are readily openable from the egress side without keys or special knowledge that would delay evacuation; locking exits in a way that prevents quick egress is not permitted under 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Use panic hardware or other devices that allow doors to open easily from the inside.
• If access control is needed, use methods that do not impede rapid exit in an emergency.

Yes—exit routes must be clearly marked and adequately illuminated so employees can find and use them in an emergency, as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Keep exit signs visible at all times and maintain lighting along travel paths and at exit doors.
• Test and maintain emergency lighting and exit signs on a regular schedule.

Employers must include procedures in the Emergency Action Plan to assist employees who need help evacuating and ensure those procedures are practiced and understood, as required in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Identify employees who may need assistance and assign trained coworkers or rescuers.
• Provide specific rescue or shelter-in-place procedures for those employees and document training.

Elevators are generally not considered acceptable exit routes for evacuation because they can fail or become unsafe during emergencies; emergency procedures should rely on stairs and other protected exit routes as specified by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• If elevators are part of an engineered evacuation (e.g., specially designed fire service elevators), include procedures and staff training.
• Otherwise, plan evacuations around stairways and safe exit routes.

Employers must inspect, maintain, and repair exit routes, doors, lighting, and signage so they remain functional and unobstructed; these responsibilities are part of the exit-route requirements in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Schedule routine inspections for doors, hardware, lighting, and clearance.
• Fix faulty exit hardware, burned-out lights, or blocked routes promptly and document corrective actions.

Exit route capacity and the number of required exits depend on how many employees must use the exits; employers should size and plan exit routes to accommodate the number of occupants as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Determine peak occupant loads for each area and make sure the total exit capacity meets that need.
• If occupancy increases, reevaluate the number and width of exit routes and update the EAP.

The employer is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and training employees on the Emergency Action Plan, as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• The employer must assign responsibilities and provide resources for drills, training, and plan updates.
• Supervisors and designated employees must know their roles and be trained to carry them out.

No—exit doors and signs must be visible and not obscured by decorations, curtains, or temporary coverings that could hide or confuse employees about exit locations, as required under 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Keep exit signs unobstructed and use contrasting colors so signs remain noticeable.
• Avoid seasonal decorations or signage that could obscure exit visibility.

Yes—temporary or short-term workplaces must also provide safe exit routes and emergency planning appropriate to the work being performed, consistent with the requirements in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Even temporary setups need clear, unobstructed paths to safety and notification procedures.
• Incorporate the temporary layout into the EAP and train personnel on any temporary route changes.

Employees must be alerted by a reliable alarm or notification system that is part of the Emergency Action Plan, and the EAP must describe how employees will be notified and what alarm signals mean, as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Use audible, visual, or voice alarms appropriate to the workplace and to employees with hearing or vision limitations.
• Train all employees on alarm signals and the required actions for each signal.

Yes—employers should keep records documenting that employees received EAP training, including dates, topics covered, and attendees, to show compliance with training requirements in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Maintain training rosters or certificates and refresher training records.
• Use records to identify who still needs training after staff changes.

Yes—when hazardous processes or materials are present, employers must ensure exit routes, travel distances, and emergency procedures address the added risks so employees can evacuate safely, as required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Minimize travel distance from hazard areas to an exit and limit the number of people exposed.
• Integrate hazard-specific shutdown, isolation, or shelter procedures into the EAP.

If exit doors or hardware are difficult to operate or broken, they must be repaired or replaced immediately so occupants can exit quickly; maintaining operable egress doors is required under 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Tag and remove defective hardware from service and use alternative routes until repairs are complete.
• Keep records of repairs and the timeline to demonstrate prompt corrective action.

OSHA enforces exit route and emergency planning rules through inspections and citations under the regulations found in 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• OSHA compliance officers evaluate exits, egress capacity, EAPs, training, and maintenance during workplace inspections.
• Correct identified violations promptly to avoid citations and improve worker safety.

While 1910 Subpart E emphasizes training, planning, and preparedness, employers are expected to test their Emergency Action Plans through exercises or drills as appropriate to ensure employees can evacuate safely; plan testing and drills are part of practical compliance with 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Regularly conduct drills to validate evacuation routes, alarm systems, and employee response.
• Use drill results to update the EAP and address any gaps discovered.

The employer's accounting procedure must ensure every employee is located and accounted for at a designated assembly area after evacuation; this procedure is an element of the Emergency Action Plan required by 1910 Subpart E (1910 Subpart E).

• Assign roll-call responsibilities or use electronic systems to confirm who is present.
• Have a plan for notifying emergency responders if someone is missing or trapped.

The official OSHA requirements for exit routes and emergency planning are contained in 1910 Subpart E; you can read the regulations and related requirements on OSHA's website at 1910 Subpart E.

• Use the official Subpart E text to guide your Emergency Action Plan, exit-route layout, training, and inspections.
• If you have specific questions about how the rules apply to your facility, consider consulting an OSHA compliance specialist or legal advisor.