As a business owner or employer, understanding the ins and outs of egress is essential to ensuring the safety of your employees and customers. What does egress mean, and what are the legal obligations of an employer with regard to egress?
Defining Egress
Simply put, egress is the freedom of movement granted to a person to leave a certain premises or location. In the context of an employer, egress refers to the legal obligation to provide safe and reasonable methods of safe passage for people on the premises. This includes exit doors, stairs, elevators, ramps, and other egress pathways that are easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Legal Obligations for Employers
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) states that employers must meet certain standards for fire safety in the workplace. According to OSHA, employers must meet the requirements for egress in order to provide safe passage for employees in the event of a fire or other emergency. These requirements are outlined in detail in the OSHA standards for egress.
In addition to providing adequate egress pathways and exits, employers must also ensure that these passages are well-maintained and clearly marked to provide maximum safety in the event of an emergency. All exits should also be illuminated adequately and tested regularly to ensure they are working properly.
Conclusion
Understanding egress is an important part of ensuring the safety of both your employees and customers. As an employer, it’s important to make sure your workplace is compliant with all the relevant regulations set by OSHA, and to make sure your exits are well-lit and regularly tested. By doing so, you can provide peace of mind in the event of an emergency.