Know your EMERGENCY EXITS!

We pass them every day, but how many of us really see them? Doors with an "Exit" sign may not be interesting, but they are vital to your well-being.

Emergency exits are essential to escape from:

• Fires, either inside the building or in the surrounding area.
• Explosions caused by gas leaks or chemical reactions.
• Power outages caused by natural disasters or internal electrical problems.
• Building collapse or major structural failure.
• Release of toxic substances or spills of flammable liquids.
• Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and tornados.

Several of these events may happen in a sequence as one triggers another.  An explosion may start a fire and cause structural damage in one part of a building.  The fire may also cause a loss of electrical power, plunging your work area into darkness.  Bearing this in mind, emergency exits probably seem a lot more important to you now. 

Make it a personal safety habit to know the location of at least two emergency exits at all times.  This applies off the job as well as on the job.  No matter where you are in a building, even if you are just passing through, look for two emergency exits.  However, this does not include elevators.  You should never use an elevator during a fire emergency.

Ensure the emergency exits in your work area are safe?

• Keep exits clear. Don't use them as storage areas, not even temporarily.
• Doors should be secured to prevent unauthorized entry from the outside, but not to prevent employees from exiting in emergencies.
• Report to your supervisor any structural problems which may affect an emergency exit route. Look for broken hand railings, loose stair treads, and doors which do not open easily.
• Check for burned out light bulbs in the overhead fixtures. Report them to your maintenance department so they will be replaced.
• Lighted exit signs should be in good working order, and have a battery backup in case of a power failure.
• Never store flammable liquids or combustible products near or under an exit or stairway.
• Emergency exits should be properly labeled. Doors which lead to a storeroom or closet should also be correctly labeled so that you don't become confused during an emergency.
• Pathways and aisles leading to your escape routes should be clean and well-maintained. Don't use aisles or traffic areas for storing stock or equipment.
• Perhaps you have physical disabilities which make it difficult for you to use some types of emergency exits. In that case, do you know which exits you can use? Is there another employee in your work area who can assist you when required?

Knowing your exit routes helps eliminate panic.