1910.36(g)(2): Minimum Width of Exit Access
An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Where only one exit access leads to an exit or exit discharge, the exit and exit discharge must be at least as wide as the exit access.
Key takeaways
- 1910.36(g)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart E).
- OSHA cited it 359 times in the last 3 years, in 359 inspections, with $1,186,672 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PR (49), AZ (28), VA (24).
- Related part: 1910.36(g) An exit route must meet minimum height and width requirements (408 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2) 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
(2) An exit access must be at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points. Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access. 359 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.36.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.36(g)(2).
At 9:40 a.m. on November 20, 2024, an employee was operating a forklift outside the cattle pens at the paunch pad area, dumping dry paunch (powder texture) ontothe floor. During this time, a subcontracted employee was operating a front-end loader in close proximity, loading paunch…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 139 |
| 2025 | 127 |
| 2026 | 71 |
Top states: PR (49), AZ (28), VA (24), NJ (19), MA (18)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC; STORE #4457 | ANNANDALE, VA | $92,245 |
| DOLLAR TREE INC | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $84,945 |
| DOLLAR TREE, INC. | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $68,825 |
| TARGET CORPORATION | NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA | $53,000 |
| TARGET CORPORATION | WARWICK, RI | $43,409 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.36(g)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Termination of the January 2009 Corporate-Wide Settlement Agreement between United Parcel Service (UPS) and OSHA; Enforcement of 20 CFR 1910.37(a)(3) and 29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2) (2019-06-18)
- Minimum width of exit routes; redesignation of 1910.1020. (2000-04-27)
- Exit route requirements as it relates to the widths of doorways into electrical equipment enclosures. (1993-11-15)
- Exit Routes. (1978-11-27)
- Clarification of requirements that exit routes be maintained clear of all obstructions. (1976-02-17)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.36(g) An exit route must meet minimum height and width requirements 408 citations
- 1910.36(g)(4) 40 citations
- 1910.36(g)(1) 9 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How wide must an exit access be?
At least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points.
What if there is only one exit access?
The width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access.
Does the width rule apply everywhere along the route?
Yes. It applies at all points.
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 2026-10-21
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.