Egress means

A fire-resistant building is located in the facility, 75 ft (23 m) from the nearest tank, and 25 ft (7.5 m) from the nearest edge of the dike wall. The building contains tank field monitoring and control equipment, provides shelter to the operators, and also houses administrative support activities. The building is equipped with multiple means of egress. 

Ability to evacuate. Fire often develops over a time period sufficient to provide warning to occupants, and some buildings may provide adequate fire resistance or means of egress to permit evacuation. For other events that can develop over a period of time, such as a BLEVE or, in some circumstances, a VCE, and for which means of detection,... 

In a multiple occupancy building a separate means of egress is advisable for transportation of animals to and from the building. Aside from the obvious odor containment, this egress provides protection to the animals. 

Sometimes in the design of a BSL-4 facility, the full letter of health and safety codes/requirements for the protection of workers can not be met. This is where health and safety specialists must compromise and use their ingenuity to meet the intent of the requirements. For example, it is not always possible to provide a secondary means of egress from each area. Two change facilities are not cost effective or practical. A viable alternative is the use of airlocks with built-in liquid disinfection systems which are not hazardous to humans, but destroy the biohazard. These airlocks must be clearly identified as others are often used for transportation of equipment and other materials and contain hazardous disinfection systems. 

The pipes to be cleaned may be of almost any length. A means of ingress and egress for the pig must be provided, all valves in the line to be cleaned must be fully open. (Valves in any branch line should be kept closed, to insure the pig follows the path of least resistance — the main line.)... 

When and emergency egress route is provided it should be protected from the effects of fire and smoke or the personnel equipped with a means to protect themselves when transversing it. It has been shown that people are reluctant to enter into smoke that reduces visibility to less than 10 meters (33 ft.), even when it is not hazardous to do so. Where the effects of fire, smoke and explosions are likely emergency egress route, it is the same as not providing an egress route. 

Exit routes and doors from all facilities should be provided according to the requirements of NFPA 101. The minimum width of all exit routes should not be less than a standardized width, 1.0 meter (39 inches) being commonly adopted. Where low occupancy rooms are provided in offshore facilities near process areas, a secondary emergency escape hatch is provided as an alternative means of escape in addition to the normal means of egress. 

Incidental combustible liquid storage (e g., lube oil reservoirs, fuel day tanks, etc.) should normally not be installed within 1.8 meters (6 ft.) of an emergency exit route, especially if it is the only means of egress from an enclosure. 

The building design should not contribute to the likelihood of flying debris. Canopies and vestibules should be avoided since they frequently become dislodged and could block critical means of egress. 

In general, at least two means of egress are required from every level, story, or section of a process structure. There are limited exceptions allowing a single means of egress for certain structures, defined as low hazard and for small areas, as follows ... 

The required two means of egress from each level should be separated from each other as much as possible. Based on the maximum overall diagonal... 

Properly designed ladders are recognized and allowed as the primary and, possibly only, means of access to and egress from certain locations. In common practice, these are locations accessed only by people capable of using a ladder, not frequently attended, and not occupied by more than three people. These may include ... 

Ladders are permitted as a second means of egress from areas not considered a high hazard, such as from boiler rooms or similar utility or equipment spaces that are normally not occupied by more than three people who are all capable of using a ladder. 

We must remember that entering a deep excavation might not be safe. According to the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), confined or enclosed space means any space having a limited means of egress, which is subject to the accumulation of toxic or flammable contaminants or has an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Confined or enclosed spaces include, but are not limited to, storage... 

Every attempt should be made to incorporate facilities for health and safety protection of plant personnel in the original design. This includes, but is not limited to, protected walkways, platforms, stairs, and work areas. Physical hazards, if unavoidable, must be clearly defined. In such areas, means for egress must be unmistakable. All machinery must be guarded with protective devices4 In all cases, medical services and first-aid must be readily available for all workers. 

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