Employee exit requirements

Under 1917.122(a) employee exits must be clearly marked.

• Use durable, legible signs on or above each exit so workers can identify them quickly, especially in low light or cluttered areas. See 1917.122(a).
• If lighting is poor, provide illuminated or photoluminescent signs so the marking remains visible in an emergency.
• Keep markings free of obstructions (paint, cables, stored materials) and maintain them so they remain readable.

Under 1917.122(b) directional signs are required when an employee exit is not visible from employees' work stations.

• Post directional signs along the route and at decision points (intersections, corridors, stair landings) so workers always know where to go; see 1917.122(b).
• Use arrows and consistent symbols; place signs at a height and angle that are easily seen from work positions.

Under 1917.122(c) exits must be kept unobstructed and provided in numbers and locations that allow employees a convenient way to escape in an emergency.

• "Readily accessible" means employees can reach an exit without moving obstacles, unlocking impediments, or taking long detours. See 1917.122(c).
• "Sufficient in number" is performance-based: design exits so the facility layout and employee count allow timely evacuation (the standard does not give a numeric table, so plan based on your specific layout and hazards).
• Maintain a clear, unobstructed passage to every required exit at all times.

No. 1917.122(c) requires that a clear passage to the exit be maintained, so temporary storage or equipment may not block an exit route.

• If work temporarily requires placing materials in a route, the employer must provide and keep open an alternate compliant route, remove the obstruction immediately after the operation, or stop work that would compromise egress. See 1917.122(c).
• Mark and communicate any temporary route changes clearly with directional signage and ensure the alternate route meets width and accessibility requirements.

Under 1917.122(d) the minimum width of any employee exit is 28 inches (71.12 cm).

• Measure the clear, unobstructed width at the narrowest point of the exit to ensure at least 28 inches of usable space. See 1917.122(d).
• If elements like door frames, sills, or equipment reduce the clear opening, those reductions must be corrected so the exit meets the 28-inch minimum.

Yes. The 28-inch minimum in 1917.122(d) applies to the clear width of any employee exit opening, so both doorways and aisles used as exits must provide at least 28 inches of clear passage.

• Ensure swinging doors, thresholds, or permanent fixtures do not reduce the clear width below 28 inches. See 1917.122(d).
• For aisles that serve as exit routes, maintain that clear width continuously along the route; narrow pinch points are not acceptable.

Exits must remain readily accessible and provide a convenient means of escape, so locking an exit in a way that delays or prevents immediate exit would violate 1917.122.

• If a locking device allows immediate, single-motion exit from the inside (for example, panic hardware or an unlocked-door mechanism), the exit can remain secure while still permitting safe egress. See 1917.122(c).
• Employers should avoid lock methods that require a key, multiple steps, or that would block escape during an emergency.

1917.122(a) requires that employee exits be clearly marked but does not explicitly require illuminated signs; however, signs must be visible in the lighting conditions expected during an emergency.

• If normal lighting may be lost during an emergency or the exit is in a dim area, provide illuminated or photoluminescent signs so the marking remains clear. See 1917.122(a).
• Consider emergency lighting and backup power to keep exit signs and routes visible during power outages.

1917.122(b) requires directional signs when exits are not visible but does not specify exact spacing; post signs wherever employees need guidance to reach the exit.

• Place directional signs at every decision point, corridor intersection, stair landing, and any location where a worker might be unsure of the route. See 1917.122(b).
• Ensure signs are visible from the typical vantage point of workers and are kept unobstructed and maintained.

Part 1917, including 1917.122, generally applies to marine terminals, but OSHA has clarified that "designated waterfront facilities" used solely for bulk storage, handling, and transfer of flammable or combustible liquids or gases are not covered by Part 1917.

• Confirm whether your facility falls within the scope of Part 1917; see 1917 for the Part and the OSHA Letter of Interpretation clarifying that designated waterfront facilities are excluded from Part 1917 in certain circumstances: Applicability to waterfront facilities.
• If your facility is excluded from Part 1917, consult the applicable OSHA standard (for example, Part 1910) or other regulatory authority for exit requirements.

No. Any employee exit must meet the 28-inch minimum in 1917.122(d), so a dock gangway narrower than 28 inches cannot serve as a compliant employee exit.

• Options include widening the gangway, adding additional compliant exits, or rerouting employees to exits that meet the 28-inch clear width requirement. See 1917.122(d).

Yes. Stairways used as employee exits are covered by 1917.122(c) and must be readily accessible with a clear passage maintained.

• Do not store materials on stair treads, landings, or handrails that would impede quick descent. See 1917.122(c).
• Maintain lighting, handrails, and signage so stairway exits remain safe and usable in an emergency.

1917.122(a) requires that exits be clearly marked but does not specify language requirements; employers should mark exits in languages or with symbols understood by their workforce to ensure clarity.

• Use pictograms and multiple languages where needed to ensure all employees can identify exits quickly. See 1917.122(a).
• Make sure translated signage remains as clear, durable, and visible as English signs.

Yes. 1917.122(d) requires a clear minimum width of 28 inches for any employee exit, so if a turnstile or access device reduces the clear opening below 28 inches it cannot serve as the exit opening.

• If you use access control devices, provide a compliant adjacent exit lane or an emergency bypass that meets the 28-inch clear width and allows immediate egress. See 1917.122(d) and 1917.122(c).

Yes, a sliding gate can be used as an employee exit as long as, when open, it provides a clear opening of at least 28 inches and is clearly marked.

• Ensure the gate's open position provides the required clear width and that the path beyond the gate remains unobstructed. See 1917.122(d) and 1917.122(a).
• Maintain gate hardware so it reliably opens without delay in an emergency.

1917.122(b) does not explicitly require power-backup for directional signs, but because signs must guide employees to exits in emergencies, employers should ensure directional signage remains visible during outages.

• Provide illuminated signs on backup power, photoluminescent signs, or emergency lighting so routes remain identifiable when normal lighting fails. See 1917.122(b).
• Test and maintain emergency lighting/sign systems as part of your emergency preparedness program.

Measure the clear, unobstructed width at the narrowest point of the exit opening; a raised threshold or sill counts as part of the opening only if it reduces the usable clear width below 28 inches.

• If the threshold, frame, or door stops reduce the clear passage below 28 inches, modify the opening or remove the obstruction so the exit meets the 1917.122(d) minimum.
• Be sure to measure with the door in its normal open position used for egress.

Whenever workplace layouts change, employers must immediately ensure exits remain clearly marked and accessible; update signage and clear passages as soon as the configuration change is implemented.

• 1917.122(a) requires exits be clearly marked and 1917.122(c) requires clear passage and sufficient exits; both demand prompt action after reconfiguration. See 1917.122(a) and 1917.122(c).
• Update maps, evacuation plans, and train employees on any new routes immediately.

No. 1917.122(d) sets a firm minimum exit width of 28 inches and does not provide an exception for older or historic facilities; employers must provide exits that meet the requirement or take equivalent measures to ensure safe egress.

• If structural modification is difficult, consider adding compliant alternate exits, rerouting workstations, or implementing other engineering solutions to achieve safe egress. See 1917.122(d).

The employer is responsible for ensuring exit routes are clearly marked, readily accessible, and kept clear as required by 1917.122(a) and (c).

• Employers must establish procedures, training, and inspections to maintain compliant exits and to correct obstructions promptly. See 1917.122(a) and 1917.122(c).
• Document inspections and corrective actions so compliance can be demonstrated during audits or inspections.