What are three 3 basic conditions required by OSHA related to means of egress?
OSHA has grouped the requirements around three common themes: (1) design and construction requirements for exit routes; (2) operation and maintenance requirements for exit routes; and (3) requirements for warning employees of the need to escape.
What are OSHA letters of Interpretation?
A letter of interpretation “provides supplementary guidance that clarifies how to apply to a specific workplace situation a policy or procedure disseminated through the Code of Federal Regulations or the OSHA directive system. [Interpretation letters] may not interpret the OSHAct, or establish or expand OSHA policy.
What is OSHA egress?
1926.34(a) “General.” In every building or structure exits shall be so arranged and maintained as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all parts of the building or structure at all times when it is occupied.
What requirements must exit routes meet OSHA?
An exit route must meet minimum height and width requirements. The ceiling of an exit route must be at least seven feet six inches (2.3 m) high. Any projection from the ceiling must not reach a point less than six feet eight inches (2.0 m) from the floor.
What is the minimum width of egress?
28 inches
(b) The minimum width of any way of exit shall in no case be less than 28 inches. Where a single way of exit leads to an exit, its capacity in terms of width shall be at least equal to the required capacity of the exit to which it leads.
What is the minimum width of an emergency exit?
28 inches wide
An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access.
What is standard interpretation?
Standard Interpretations are letters or memos written in response to public inquiries or field office inquiries regarding how some aspect of or terminology in an OSHA standard or regulation is to be interpreted and enforced by the Agency.
How do you determine the number of exits required?
(b) More than two exits must be provided in a workplace if the number of employees, the size of the building, its occupancy, or the arrangement of the workplace is such that all employees would not be able to evacuate safely during an emergency if only two exits were provided.
What requirements must exit routes?
Exit routes must be permanent parts of the workplace. Exit discharges must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside. These exit discharge areas must be large enough to accommodate the building occupants likely to use the exit route.
What constitutes an emergency exit?
An emergency exit is an exit that is used to provide a safe means of escape from a structure or area in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. The exit must be in an easily accessible, unobstructed, and permanent location.
How is egress width calculated?
The clear opening width of a door is measured from the face of the door with the door open 90 degrees, to the stop on the strike jamb of the frame. To calculate the egress width of the entire opening for a pair without a mullion, measure between the faces of both doors when open to 90 degrees.