Emergency exit routes are the lifeline of workplace safety during fires, chemical releases, natural disasters, and other emergencies. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36 and 1910.37 establish the design, construction, and maintenance requirements for exit routes in general industry workplaces. These standards require a continuous and unobstructed path of exit travel from any point in the workplace to a place of safety. Exit routes that are blocked, poorly lit, or improperly marked can trap employees during emergencies with fatal consequences. Regular inspection of exit signage, door hardware, aisle clearance, lighting, and route accessibility ensures compliance and protects lives. This guide covers all inspection requirements with a free downloadable checklist.
Free Emergency Exit & Egress Inspection Checklist
Download our Word document checklist covering exit signs, doors, aisles, lighting, and route maintenance per OSHA 1910.36/37.
Download Checklist (.docx)Regulatory Framework
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36 — Design and Construction Requirements
- 1910.36(b): At least two exit routes must be available in a workplace to permit prompt evacuation of employees. More exits are required where the number of employees, size of building, or occupancy warrants.
- 1910.36(d): An exit route must be separated by fire-resistant materials with one-hour rating (three or fewer stories) or two-hour rating (four or more stories).
- 1910.36(e)(2): Exit doors must swing outward in the direction of travel when serving rooms occupied by more than 50 people or high-hazard areas.
- 1910.36(g)(1): Exit route ceiling height must be at least 7 feet 6 inches. Projections must not be lower than 6 feet 8 inches from the floor.
- 1910.36(g)(2): Exit access width must be at least 28 inches at its narrowest point and sufficient for the expected number of evacuees.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.37 — Maintenance, Safeguards, and Operational Features
- 1910.37(a)(1): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed within the exit route.
- 1910.37(a)(3): Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.
- 1910.37(b)(1): Each exit route must be adequately lighted so an employee with normal vision can see along the route.
- 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit must be clearly visible and marked by a sign reading “Exit.”
- 1910.37(b)(4): Line-of-sight to an exit sign must be clearly visible at all times.
- 1910.37(b)(5): Doorways or passages that could be mistaken for exits must be marked “Not an Exit” or with their actual use.
- 1910.37(b)(7): EXIT sign letters must be at least 6 inches high with principal strokes at least 3/4 inch wide.
- 1910.37(c): Fire-retardant paints or solutions must be used on exit route surfaces where flammable materials are present.
- 1910.37(e): An operable employee alarm system with a distinctive signal must be maintained.
OSHA enforcement priority: Exit route violations are among the most commonly cited OSHA standards. Blocked exits, missing or non-illuminated exit signs, and locked exit doors are frequently identified during inspections and can result in significant penalties.
Part 1: Exit Signage & Marking
| Inspection Item | What to Check |
|---|---|
| EXIT sign presence | Each exit clearly marked with illuminated sign reading “EXIT” per 1910.37(b)(2). Letters at least 6 inches high with strokes at least 3/4 inch wide per 1910.37(b)(7). Sign visible from all approach directions. |
| EXIT sign illumination | Signs continuously illuminated whether by internal, external, or self-luminous power source. Battery backup functioning. No burned-out bulbs or dim LEDs. Visible during normal and emergency power conditions. |
| Directional signs | Where direction of travel to exit is not immediately apparent, directional signs posted along exit access indicating direction to nearest exit per 1910.37(b)(4). Arrows or chevrons clearly visible. |
| “Not an Exit” marking | Doorways or passages along exit access that could be mistaken for exits marked “Not an Exit” or identified by actual use (e.g., “Closet,” “Storage,” “Basement”) per 1910.37(b)(5). |
| Sign visibility | Line-of-sight to exit sign clearly visible at all times per 1910.37(b)(4). Signs not blocked by decorations, banners, equipment, shelving, or inventory. No obstructions between occupant sightlines and signage. |
Part 2: Exit Doors & Hardware
| Inspection Item | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Door operation | Exit doors open freely without excessive force. Doors operable from inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge per 1910.36(d)(1). Panic hardware (push bars) functioning on doors serving high-occupancy or high-hazard areas. |
| Door swing direction | Doors swing outward in the direction of exit travel when serving rooms with more than 50 occupants or high-hazard areas per 1910.36(e)(2). Door swing does not block or reduce required exit width. |
| Self-closing mechanism | Fire-rated doors equipped with functional self-closing devices. Doors not propped open unless connected to fire alarm system with automatic release. Closers adjusted for proper latching speed. |
| Door condition | No damage, warping, or deterioration that impedes operation. Hinges secure and properly aligned. Weather seals intact on exterior doors. Glass panels (if present) intact and fire-rated where required. |
| Locked door compliance | Exit doors never locked from inside during occupied hours. Delayed egress locks (if installed) comply with maximum 15-second delay and release upon fire alarm activation. No chains, padlocks, or slide bolts on exit doors. |
Part 3: Exit Route Clearance & Condition
| Inspection Item | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Route unobstructed | Exit routes completely free and unobstructed per 1910.37(a)(1). No materials, equipment, carts, pallets, boxes, or temporary storage placed in exit routes. No extension cords or cables creating trip hazards. |
| Minimum width maintained | Exit route at least 28 inches wide at narrowest point per 1910.36(g)(2). Corridors and aisles maintain required width along entire length. No permanent or temporary encroachments reducing width below minimums. |
| Ceiling height | Exit route ceiling at least 7 feet 6 inches high per 1910.36(g)(1). Projections from ceiling (pipes, ducts, signs, fixtures) not lower than 6 feet 8 inches from floor. No low-hanging hazards in path of travel. |
| Floor condition | Exit route floors in good repair. No holes, loose tiles, torn carpet, uneven surfaces, or wet/slippery areas. Stairs and ramps provided where routes are not substantially level per 1910.37(a)(3). Anti-slip treads on stairs. |
| Route continuity | Exit route provides continuous, uninterrupted path from any occupied area to exit discharge. No dead-end corridors exceeding code-permitted length. Route does not pass through rooms that can be locked (e.g., bathrooms). |
| Two exits available | At least two exit routes available and located as far apart as practical per 1910.36(b)(2). Both routes accessible from all occupied areas. Alternate routes not compromised by single event (fire, spill, collapse). |
Part 4: Exit Lighting & Alarm Systems
| Inspection Item | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Exit route lighting | Each exit route adequately lighted so an employee with normal vision can see along the route per 1910.37(b)(1). Minimum 1 footcandle along path of egress. No dark areas, shadows, or unlit sections. |
| Emergency lighting | Battery-powered or generator-backed emergency lighting activates upon power failure. Illumination adequate for safe evacuation. Emergency lights tested per NFPA 101 (monthly 30-second functional, annual 90-minute duration). |
| Stairwell lighting | Stairwells serving as exit routes adequately illuminated at all times. Emergency lighting covers all landings and treads. Light switches accessible or lights always on in fire-rated stairwells. |
| Employee alarm system | Operable employee alarm system maintained per 1910.37(e) with distinctive signal for fire or other emergencies. Alarm audible throughout all occupied areas. Compliant with 1910.165 (tested at least every two months). |
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code: OSHA recognizes compliance with NFPA 101 (2009 edition) or the International Fire Code (2009 edition) as demonstrating compliance with the OSHA exit route requirements in 1910.34, 1910.36, and 1910.37. NFPA 101 provides more detailed technical requirements for specific occupancy types, egress capacity calculations, travel distance limits, and emergency lighting performance.
Immediate Corrective Actions Required
Correct immediately when any of these conditions are found: exit door locked, chained, or secured from inside during occupied hours; exit route blocked by materials, equipment, or storage; exit sign missing, not illuminated, or not visible; emergency lighting non-functional; exit door inoperable or does not latch; ceiling height below minimums due to temporary obstructions; fire-rated doors propped open without alarm-connected hold-open devices; exit route narrowed below minimum required width; exit discharge obstructed (snow, ice, debris, dumpsters, vehicles); employee alarm system inoperative.
Download the Free Checklist
Get our emergency exit and egress inspection checklist in Word format. Covers all OSHA 1910.36/37 requirements.
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Inspections
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Facility-wide safety walkthroughs covering all means of egress requirements.
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Compliance Calendar
Track monthly, quarterly, and annual inspection due dates automatically.
Task Management
Assign corrective actions for blocked exits and track remediation to completion.
Training
Document employee evacuation training, emergency drills, and floor warden assignments.
