OSHA Revises Means of Egress Standard

On November 6, 2002, OSHA published the revised General Industry Means of Egress standard. The revised standard which is called "Exit Routes, Emergency Actions Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans," became effective on December 7, 2002. The existing standard was over 30 years old and in need of updating. The revised standard has been rewritten in a more user-friendly format.

The term "means of egress" is now referred to as "exit routes." The text has been reorganized, and inconsistencies and duplicative requirements have been removed. The revised standard has fewer subparagraphs and a smaller number of cross-references to other OSHA standards than the previous Means of Egress standard.

Employers now have the option of adopting the 2000 National Fire Protection Associations’ Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), instead of the OSHA standard for exit routes. OSHA evaluated the NFPA standard and concluded that it provides comparable safety.

Follow this link to view the revised Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans standard.