1926.34: Means of Egress in Construction
Employers must arrange and maintain exits in every building or structure so people can get out freely from all parts whenever it is occupied, with no locks that block escape from inside except in listed institutions. Exits must be marked by readily visible signs, and means of egress must stay free of all obstructions.
Key takeaways
- 1926.34 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart C).
- OSHA cited it 69 times in the last 3 years, in 67 inspections, with $151,051 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (16), MA (15), NV (5).
- Most-cited part: 1926.34(b) Exit marking (33 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.34, "Means of egress", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart C). It has 3 numbered paragraphs. 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
Show the full text of 1926.34 (3 paragraphs)
(a) General. In every building or structure exits shall be so arranged and maintained as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all parts of the building or structure at all times when it is occupied. No lock or fastening to prevent free escape from the inside of any building shall be installed except in mental, penal, or corrective institutions where supervisory personnel is continually on duty and effective provisions are made to remove occupants in case of fire or other emergency. Open (a) 22 citations
(b) Exit marking. Exits shall be marked by a readily visible sign. Access to exits shall be marked by readily visible signs in all cases where the exit or way to reach it is not immediately visible to the occupants. Open (b) 33 citations
(c) Maintenance and workmanship. Means of egress shall be continually maintained free of all obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency. Open (c) 14 citations
[58 FR 35083, June 30, 1993]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 67 inspections cited 1926.34 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 | 19 |
Top states: VA (16), MA (15), NV (5), NY (5), PA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| OLIVEIRA GENERAL SERVICES, LLC. | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $13,902 |
| LC CONSTRUCTION DELAWARE INC. | CAMDEN, DE | $12,421 |
| J. GLOBAL ENERGY MIDSTREAM LLC | KILGORE, TX | $9,218 |
| DOBCO, INC. | DOVER AFB, DE | $8,511 |
| COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL | DOVER AFB, DE | $7,945 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.34, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.34.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.34(b) Exit marking 33 citations
- 1926.34(a) General 22 citations
- 1926.34(c) Maintenance and workmanship 14 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Can exits be locked from the inside?
No lock or fastening to prevent free escape from the inside may be installed, except in mental, penal or corrective institutions with continual supervision and effective removal plans.
Do exits need signs?
Yes. Exits must be marked by a readily visible sign, and access to exits must be marked where the exit is not immediately visible.
Can materials be stored in an exit path?
No. Means of egress must be continually maintained free of all obstructions or impediments.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.34 (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.