OSHA takes evacuation very seriously. In the event of a true emergency, the only thing which may be able to protect life and prevent serious injury is a well designed, clearly labeled,  and properly maintained evacuation route. And as the standards were being formed, OSHA ultimately created two separate standards for evacuation – 1910.36, which covers the construction of the exits and routes, and 1910.37, which describes how the routes need to be maintained, what safeguards need to be in place, and how to handle changes to the original evacuation route.

Standard 1910.36 can be seen as the planning and building standard for means of egress. This standard dictates how to create an evacuation plan, how many exits must be available, and how many possible routes must be available from any given location in your facility. Further, it sets regulations on how these paths must be built, and how the exits must be constructed. This includes the size of the openings, the types of openings, the materials used, and the accessibility.

Standard 1910.37 can be seen as the post-construction standard for evacuation routes. Once you have created your evacuation plan and constructed all of your paths and exits to code, 1910.37 will guide you on how to maintain these routes. This includes the safety features required for various pathways and exits, the lighting which is necessary, the signage, and the fact that the routes and exits must be left unobstructed.

If you have not recently reviewed your evacuation route, it is important to do so. And if you have any questions about your specific situation, please contact us so that we can guide you through these standards and explain how they pertain to your unique facility. If you have anything else to say about means of egress, please leave a comment.