EXITS

EXITS

Hello there, this is Goke Akingbade (your Safety guide). Today we will be discussing about exits and exit routes. In workplace safety, an exit is the portion of the exit route that generally is separated from other areas to provide a protected way of travel out of the workplace.                                            Our area of focus will be on what is called in health and safety an emergency exit.                              An emergency exit in a structure is a special exit for emergencies such as a fire.                              Every workplace must have sufficient exit routes and exits to use in an emergency.                                                                                                                                                         Exit routes are continuous and unobstructed paths of exit from any point within a workplace to a safe area. Exit routes consist of three parts, which are:                                                                              (1) Access to the exit. (2) The exit. (3) Way from the exit to the outside                                                                                                                                                                  Exit routes include all vertical and horizontal areas:                                                                                       (a)Stairs        (b)Ramps                      (c)Aisles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          EXIT ROUTE AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS.                                                                                                                                                        In determining the number of exit routes required, we need to consider three criteria, which are:    (1) The size of the building. (2) The building occupancy.  (3) The arrangement of the workplace.                                                                                                                                                         There must be atleast two available exit routes that must be remote from each other. Other means of escape should be available if there is only one exit route.(a) Fire escapes   (b) Accessible windows                                                                                                                                                                                     FIRE RESISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR  EXITS.                                                                                                                                                                    There must be a separation between the exit and the rest of the workplace. Exits must protected by a self-closing fire exit door. The fire door must never be blocked.                                                               It is also very important that the exit routes be kept safe. The purpose of an exit route is to reach an exit. Exit routes cannot lead workers toward a dead end, or through a room that can be locked. They must be free of highly flammable furnishings. A safety sign must be fixed on the upper part of the door along the exit route to indicate the direction of travel to the nearest exit.                                                                                                                                                         REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT EXITS ARE SAFE.                                                                                                                                                                            Exits must lead directly outside or to an open space with access to the outside.                                 The area beyond the exit has to have enough room for the people most likely to use the exit.         Exit doors must be easy to open without keys.  Exit doors cannot have any alarm device that would restrict emergency use of the exit should the device fail.                                                                       Doors must swing out from the room into the exit route if a room:                                                          may be occupied by more than 50 people; or                                                                                              contains highly flammable or explosive materials.                                                                                                                                                                            We will stop here for today. Till I come your way again, please stay safe.

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