Evacuation plans and procedures act as a final layer of defense for employees in the event of a

serious emergency. These plans and procedures set forth the quickest route out of your facility,

leading your staff to safety. Because of the vital role these plans and procedures play in the event

of a catastrophic emergency, OSHA regulates and monitors them very heavily. Standard 1910.36

governs the minimum requirements for evacuation plans and procedures.

The first thing you need to look at is the number of exits from your facility. Based upon the

design, square footage, number of employees, number of floors, etc., you need to maintain an

“adequate” number of “permanent” exits. Now, what qualifies as “adequate” will vary based

upon your facility, but having an understanding of your floor plan and your requirements will

help you to determine where there should be exits.

Once you have designed the evacuation routes and determined an appropriate flow, it is time

to print and post these routes. The route needs to be made available to all employees, posted in

plain sight, and employees need to be notified of where you have posted the routes. Improperly

printing the route can create serious issues for your employees in the event of an emergency and

your company’s bottom line in the event of an OSHA audit. For this reason, you need to ensure

that the plans are being printed by an experienced and knowledgeable firm.

If you have any questions about evacuation plans and procedures or how your facility should be

laid out, please contact us. If you have anything to add about evacuation plans and procedures,

please leave a comment.