Emergency routes and exits

Apply to all workplaces, unless specifically excepted, and require a fire risk assessment where necessary, appropriate fire-fighting equipment with detectors and alarms measures for fire-fighting emergency routes and exits maintenance of equipment provided. 

Emergency routes and exits must lead as directly as possible to a place of safety... 

Emergency routes and exits must be adequately illuminated in the event of a failure of the normal lighting. 

Suitable fire fighting and fire detection >- Suitable emergency routes and exits >- Suitable maintenance arrangements. 

A sufficient number of suitable emergency routes and exits must be provided to enable any person to reach a place of safety quickly in the event of danger. 

In determining the number of emergency routes and exits, the following factors should be considered ... 

Suitable and sufficient fire fighting equipment, fire detectors and alarm systems must be provided on site and in suitable locations. In determining this, the duty holder must take account of the factors listed in emergency routes and exits above. 

Emergency routes and exits are to be provided where necessary in sufficient numbers to enable any person to... 

The evacuation route should be simple to locate and negotiable even in an emergency lighting condition. If the route is not obvious, adequate demarcation (i.e., signs, arrows, etc.) should be provided on the route and exit points. 

Fire drills verify the organization s readiness to handle a fire emergency effectively. The entire facility should be involved, using unannounced drills. The drills may be done by department or section. Management members should have specific responsibilities and be required to carry them out during an emergency as well as during the drill. Evacuation routes and exits should be posted in each work location. 

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. 

Air locks and pass-throughs are bidirectional and can be used for movement in either direction. When used as an exit route, the decontamination procedure can be omitted. Where production volumes warrant separate entry and exit, air locks may be necessary to maintain both adequate capacity and separation between clean and used items. In an emergency, airlocks can serve as emergency exits for personnel, in which case the interlocks can be overridden. 

Where are the exits and escape routes located Are they clearly marked in all appropriate languages In the event that a mass gathering should decompensate into a MCI, every health care provider must be aware of the entire site layout, location of all escape routes, and how to activate the emergency operations plan (see chapter 1). 

Site evacuation routes and other alternative routes should be made available for reaching any site of emergency from inside and outside. Personnel accounting, procedure, assembly areas, safety zones, and exits should be known to everyone. 

Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments ... 

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