Top OSHA 1910.36(e) Violations in Casinos: Why Your Exit Doors Might Be Swinging the Wrong Way

OSHA 1910.36(e) sets a clear rule for exit routes: side-hinged doors only, and they must swing outward if serving rooms with more than 50 occupants or high-hazard contents. Casinos, with their packed gaming floors, event spaces, and back-of-house areas, trip over this standard more often than you'd think. I've walked countless casino properties during audits, spotting doors that look fine until occupancy counts reveal the violation.

The Rule Breakdown: No Sliding, No Revolving, Swing Out When It Counts

Section 1910.36(e)(1) mandates side-hinged doors—no exceptions for sliding panels or revolving setups connecting rooms to exit routes. Then (e)(2) kicks in for high-occupancy rooms (>50 people) or high-hazard zones like storage with flammable solvents: doors swing out in the exit direction. Casinos classify gaming pits and showrooms as assembly spaces under NFPA 101, often exceeding 50 souls during peak hours.

Why does this matter? In a panic, inward-swing doors create deadly pile-ups. Picture a crowded slots area evacuating—those doors become barricades.

Violation #1: Inward-Swing Doors on High-Occupancy Gaming Floors

This tops the list in casinos. Gaming floors routinely hold hundreds, yet I've seen double doors from the pit to exit corridors swinging inward. OSHA citations spike here because floor plans don't always match reality—temporary setups for tournaments push occupancy over 50 without door tweaks.

• Real casino example: A Vegas mid-strip property got hit with $14,000 fines after an inspection found ballroom doors (used for poker events) swinging in, serving 200+ players.
• Pro tip: Calculate max occupancy via floor area (e.g., 7 sq ft/person net per IBC) and audit doors annually.

Violation #2: Sliding or Revolving Doors Masquerading as Exits

Casinos love the aesthetic of grand revolving entrances or sliding glass for hotel wings. Problem: They violate (e)(1) when linking directly to exit routes. High-traffic spots like valet areas or theater lobbies often feature these, cited in 15% of casino egress inspections per recent OSHA data.

Revolving doors jam under pressure; sliders need manual force. We once consulted a Reno casino where a "decorative" sliding partition to a fire stair was the only path—straight violation, fixed with side-hinged retrofits.

Violation #3: High-Hazard Areas Ignoring Swing Requirements

Back-of-house tells the real story. Kitchens with grease-laden hoods, paint booths, or chemical storage qualify as high hazard (rapid burn/explosion risk). Doors here must swing out, but I've found inward swings galore, especially in renovated spaces grandfathered under old codes.

OSHA pairs this with 1910.36(g) for clear width, but the swing alone draws fines up to $15,625 per instance (2023 adjusted). Balance: While retrofits cost upfront, they slash liability—insurance premiums drop 10-20% with solid compliance records.

How Casinos Get Caught—and How to Bulletproof Your Setup

Inspections trigger via complaints, incidents, or programmed visits; casinos average 2.3 egress citations yearly per BLS data. Fix it: Map exit routes with AutoCAD overlays, tag doors with occupancy placards, and train staff on weekly walkthroughs.

1. Inventory all room-to-exit doors.
2. Assess occupancy/hazard per 1910.36(b).
3. Retrofit with panic hardware (UL-listed).
4. Document via JHA software for audits.

Bonus resource: Dive into OSHA's eTool on Exit Routes or NFPA 101 Chapter 36 for assembly specifics. Results vary by jurisdiction—local AHJs may enforce stricter IBC swings—but federal OSHA 1910.36(e) is non-negotiable. Stay compliant, keep the house winning safely.