OSHA Regulations for a Single-Door Office

A U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation details the requirements for workplace exit routes, the first of which is that each route must be a permanent part of the workplace. A number of regulations apply to single-door offices.

Number

• A single-door office is unusual; most offices have at least two exits. OSHA Standard 1910.36(b) is the general provision that mandates that the number of exit routes must be "adequate."

Function

• The general OSHA requirement for workplaces requires two exits. OSHA Standard 1910.36(b)(1) states that at least two exit routes must be available in a workplace, located as far away as practical from each other, to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency.

Exception

• There is an exception to the OSHA rule that requires at least two exit routes. OSHA Standard 1910.36(b)(3) provides that a single-exit route is permissible if the specific characteristics of the workplace are such that every employee could evacuate safely in the event of an emergency. Important factors include the layout of the building, the number of employees and the size of the building.