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In certain parts of ancient America, cities were often protected by high walls containing tiny exits. The purpose of these doorway-sized exits was to allow passage to single citizens, but not to large groups such as armies laying siege to the city. Armies would crowd the tiny doorway trying to get through only to be picked off one by one.
Although this way of construction was extremely helpful in city defense, it’s much less helpful today when talking about emergency exits. Thinking back to the example, imagine the whole city catching fire. Chances are, the citizens would have struggled to get out of the city, resulting in many fatalities.
To prevent a similar tragedy in our workspaces, it’s critical to have a proper emergency exit route set in place. OSHA has established laws and guidelines regarding emergency exit plans. By understanding and following OSHA guidelines, employers can create an escape plan that’s unique and effective.
The Three Parts to an Exit Routes
From our previous example, we see that a simple doorway leading outside isn’t an effective enough escape route. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines three main components that need to be maintained:
Exit access- A path that leads directly to an exit. Examples might include hallways leading from offices to an exit or a stairwell leading to the bottom floor.
Exit- The “exit” classifies the area surrounding the actual exit point. This area should be kept open and free of debris or clutter. As a rule of thumb, this area should be big enough to hold every employee at your workplace
Exit Discharge- The part of the exit route that leads directly outside, such as a door or window. There should be at least two exit discharges; however, more may be necessary depending on the number of employees. It’s also required that doors and windows open outward, not inward.
How to Create an Exit Route and Emergency Plan
It’s important for companies to organize both an emergency evacuation plan as well as an exit route diagram.
An emergency evacuation plan outlines the steps you should follow during and after an emergency.
Somewhere in your plan, you should include the following:
- Immediate instructions: “Call 911”, “alert everyone of the issue”, “Begin vacating the premises”
- Fire-safety instruction and protocol: This part includes important warnings and advisories for safety during an evacuation. This includes warnings such as, “Don’t use elevators during fire” or instructions on how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Posted evacuation instructions: Include a location to gather outside of the building. Establish a system to account for employees.
- Fire safety procedures: Most protocols are included in OSHA Aligned material but should be summarized as part of the plan. This includes rules such as “stop, drop, and roll.”
Employers should use their evacuation plan as a part of training. They should also provide fire safety training courses to the staff.
For help training employees on proper fire safety, check out Safety Provision’s Fire Safety training course.
An exit route diagram is simply an outline of the floor plan with directions to the safest exit. It needs to be hung somewhere employees can see it, along with the emergency evacuation plan.
It identifies:
- Current location
- Building exits
- Stairs
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire alarms
- Path to exit
There should be one exit route diagram for each floor of the building. Employers should review them during fire safety training.
OSHA Rules and Standards for An Exit Route
OSHA has a lot of standards when it comes to having an approved escape route. Depending on the size of a company and the number of employees, the following may be needed:
- Larger hallways
- More exits
- Wider stairs
- Emergency ladders
Therefore, you may already have an exit route established but are unsure whether or not it is OSHA compliant. Here are some standards to consider.
Emergency Ladders- Emergency ladders should be used for buildings with multiple floors. Their location should be included in the escape route diagram.
Stairs- The minimum width of a stairwell should be 44 inches (around 4 feet.) However, to determine whether or not more is needed, simply multiply your occupancy limit by 0.3. If the number comes out larger than 44 inches, it should be expanded accordingly.
Hallways
Hallways and aisles are an essential part of the exit access. Size requirements depend on the industry. For example, a school’s hallways will probably be bigger than the local post office. Specific size requirements are given in the International Building Code. The local fire department is also a great source to find specific information.
Exits
Safe exits are the most important part of an exit route, so they require the most standards and regulations.
- Doors can’t be obstructed or locked from the outside
- They should be able to open at least 90 degrees in the outward direction
- They shouldn’t require a key to open from the inside
- They need to be at least 32 inches wide and 80 inches tall
- Any business should have a minimum of two exits. A good rule of thumb is to add an additional exit for every 500 persons the building can hold
Important Evacuation Procedures
Evacuation procedures are important to know when a real fire occurs. Sometimes, simply walking out of the building isn’t an easy option during an emergency. In large skyscrapers, people can find themselves stranded on a higher floor, unable to access an emergency exit. In other cases, exits become blocked off by flames, preventing evacuation.
Although situations vary, some practices can be universally helpful. In this section, we’ll cover a few common safety procedures to use during a fire. Keep in mind, however, that this is no replacement for proper safety training. Employers should always give in-depth training on how to deal with a fire in their specific workplace.
Smoke
In most fires, smoke presents a far greater danger than the flames themselves. If you’re trapped during a fire and the room is filling with smoke, get as low to the ground as you can. Smoke travels upwards, so the air will be fresher the lower down you are. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth if smoke continues to fill the room and you’re still waiting on rescue. In this instance, a shirt normally works best. You want to find something that can help filter the smoke and ash from the air to let you breathe safely.
Stop, Drop, and Roll
If you or your coworker catch fire, an extinguisher is the most ideal way of putting it out. However, if an extinguisher isn’t nearby, the “stop, drop, and roll” method is the next best way to extinguish a small fire on your body. Simply get on the ground and roll back and forth until the fire is smothered.
“Stop, drop, and roll” is a good rule of thumb, but it’s usually only effective against small fires. A full-body fire, however, can be much harder to extinguish. In this case, your best bet is to find a fire extinguisher or try to smother the fire using a blanket.
If Stranded
In some cases, you may find yourself trapped inside a burning building. Ceilings may partially collapse, pinning people underneath or blocking an exit. If the fire is on a lower floor, it’s possible that stairways and emergency exits are engulfed in flames, preventing a safe descent.
First, evaluate your options. If one exit is blocked, search for another. As you search, always feel a door before entering a room; if the door feels hot, find a different path. In extreme cases, every exit route may be blocked. This is more likely for people on higher floors of a building where the fire is ascending from lower floors.
If this is the case, the best thing you can do is stay put. Call the fire department and tell them where you are. Never assume someone else has already contacted them. Find the nearest window and open it. This will help clear some of the smoke in the room and could possibly lead you to an escape ladder. When the fire department arrives, call out the window and wave your arms. This helps them locate where you’re stranded. As discussed before, stay low and wait to be rescued.
Summary
Exit routes are a distinct part of a building’s floor plan and include exit access, an exit, and an exit discharge. They should appear in your company’s emergency exit diagram, and be described as part of your emergency evacuation plan.
OSHA has established specific building requirements for emergency evacuation plans. Other sections of a building, such as hallways, are sized according to the type of company. Size specifications can be found in the International Building Code, or by contacting a fire department.
“Stop, drop, and roll” is an effective way to extinguish small bodily fires, though larger ones require a fire extinguisher. If a fire has blocked an exit, search for an alternative route, or find a window to signal for help. Keep your body low to the ground if a room is filling with smoke.