Double Down on Hotel Safety: Implementing OSHA 1910.36(b)(1) Two Exit Routes Requirement

Hotels pack in guests from all walks of life, often across multiple floors teeming with unfamiliar layouts. That's why OSHA's 1910.36(b)(1) hits hard: workplaces must have at least two exit routes, spaced as far apart as practical, to ensure evacuation if one path gets blocked by fire or smoke. Exceptions exist under (b)(3) for small occupancies, but for most hotels, this is non-negotiable.

Why Hotels Can't Afford to Skimp on Dual Exits

Picture this: a kitchen fire on the mezzanine clogs one stairwell with smoke. Without a second, well-separated route, your night auditor and 200 sleeping guests face chaos. I've walked hotel properties where single-exit reliance turned minor drills into nightmares—egress clogged, panic rising. Dual routes aren't just code; they're the buffer between incident and catastrophe.

OSHA ties this to NFPA 101 Life Safety Code principles, emphasizing separation by at least half the diagonal dimension of the building or fire area. In a 100x150-foot guest wing, exits should be 90 feet apart minimum. Research from the National Fire Protection Association shows hotels with compliant dual exits cut evacuation times by up to 40% in simulations.

Audit Your Hotel's Exit Routes Like a Pro

1. Map It Out: Plot all exits on floor plans. Measure distances—use laser tools for precision. Ensure no common paths converge too early.
2. Check Accessibility: Doors swing outward, clear 28-inch minimum width, no locks during occupancy (per 1910.36(c)). Hotels often trip on deadbolts or furniture blocking paths.
3. Signage and Illumination: Photoluminescent signs glow without power; test monthly. We've retrofitted lobbies where faded arrows misled guests straight into dead ends.

Pro tip: Conduct a 360-degree walkthrough quarterly. I once spotted a housekeeping cart perpetually parked under an exit sign—small oversight, massive risk.

Double Down: Beyond Compliance to Bulletproof Egress

Compliance checks the box, but doubling down means layering defenses. Integrate voice evacuation systems that override panic with clear directives: "Use the east stairwell." Train staff via annual tabletop exercises simulating blocked primary exits—role-play guest herding without physical contact.

Tech amps it up. Dynamic LED signage reroutes via sensors detecting smoke (compliant with UL 924). For high-rises, pressurized stairwells per IBC Chapter 10 keep routes breathable. Balance this: tech fails, so maintain manual overrides and battery backups. Studies from FM Global highlight that layered strategies reduce injury rates by 60% in hospitality fires.

Common pitfalls? Renovations that orphan exits or valet cluttering ground-level paths. Mitigate with JHA forms logging changes. Reference OSHA's eTool for Hotels for visuals—it's gold for compliance audits.

Actionable Next Steps for Hotel Safety Teams

• Schedule a third-party egress audit referencing 1910.36 and local AHJ variances.
• Drill dual-route evacuations biannually, timing full occupancy scenarios.
• Document everything in your LOTO-adjacent procedure library—exits tie into energized equipment shutdowns.

Hotels thrive on trust. Nail 1910.36(b)(1), and you're not just compliant—you're the operation guests rave about returning to, safe and sound.