1910.36(b)(1): Two Exit Routes Required
Employers must make at least two exit routes available to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other occupants in an emergency, except as allowed in (b)(3). The routes must be as far apart as practical so if fire or smoke blocks one, people can use the other.
Key takeaways
- 1910.36(b)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart E).
- OSHA cited it 24 times in the last 3 years, in 24 inspections, with $86,049 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: CT (3), PA (3), RI (3).
- Related part: 1910.36(b) The number of exit routes must be adequate (26 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.36(b)(1) ("Two exit routes") is one requirement inside 1910.36 Design and construction requirements for exit routes, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart E). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) Two exit routes. At least two exit routes must be available in a workplace to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency, except as allowed in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. The exit routes must be located as far away as practical from each other so that if one exit route is blocked by fire or smoke, employees can evacuate using the second exit route. 24 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.36.
Export the list: 24 inspections cited 1910.36(b)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.36(b)(1).
At 12:00 p.m. on May 1, 2024, an explosion occurred at a production line, where multiple employees were working. Four employees were hospitalized to treat burnsand toxic gas inhalation, while six others were treated on-site without hospitalization for similar injuries.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: CT (3), PA (3), RI (3), NJ (2), OH (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DEE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, INC. | WILMINGTON, DE | $11,292 |
| SUPERIOR SIGNAL COMPANY, LLC | OLD BRIDGE, NJ | $8,401 |
| SUMMIT MEDICAL COMPASSION CENTER, INC. | WARWICK, RI | $8,110 |
| BRIDON-BEKAERT THE ROPES GROUP | HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA | $8,000 |
| AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. | OAK HARBOR, WA | $7,835 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.36(b)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.36(b)(1).
Related parts of this rule
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Frequently asked questions
How many exit routes are required?
At least two, except as allowed in paragraph (b)(3).
How far apart must they be?
As far away as practical from each other.
Why two routes?
So if one is blocked by fire or smoke, employees can evacuate by the second.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.36 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.