Route that shall be provided to enable any person to reach a place of safety quickly in the event of danger.
Provisions for emergency routes (and exits)
1) (a) An emergency route or exit provided shall lead as directly as possible to an identified safe area; (b) in the event of danger, it must be possible for
employees to evacuate the
workplace quickly and as safely as possible; (c) the number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits shall be adequate having regard to the use, equipment, and dimensions of the workplace and the maximum number of persons that may be present there at any one time; (d) emergency doors shall open in the direction of escape; (e) sliding or revolving doors shall not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits; (f) emergency doors shall not be locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency; (g) all emergency routes and exits shall be indicated by suitable signs.
2) Any emergency route and exit and any traffic route or door giving access thereto, shall be kept clear and free from obstruction, and, where requiring illumination, provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of normal lighting, so that such emergency route or exit may be used at any time.
3) Within construction sites, any provision for emergency routes and exits shall have regard to a) the type of work for which the
construction site is being used, b) the characteristics and size of the construction site and the number and location of places of work on that site, c) the plant and equipment being used, d) the number of persons likely to be present on the site at any one time, and e) the physical and chemical properties of any
substances or materials on or likely to be on the site.
