1910.36 Exit Route Design: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Sets basic design rules for exit routes so employees can leave a building safely during a fire or other emergency. Exit routes must be permanent, separated by fire-resistant materials where required, and adequate in number for the size of the building and its occupants, normally at least two. Exit doors must be unlocked from the inside and side-hinged where required, and routes must meet minimum width and ceiling-height dimensions and lead to an outside area or refuge.
What the standard requires
- Provide enough exit routes, normally at least two, for the occupancy
- Ensure exit doors can be opened from the inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge
- Maintain minimum exit route width of 28 inches and ceiling height of 7 feet 6 inches
- Ensure exit routes lead to an outside area or safe refuge
Hazards it addresses
- Entrapment during fires or emergencies
- Crowding and crush injuries during evacuation
Commonly cited in retail stores, warehouses, restaurants, and small manufacturing shops.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.36(d)(1) | Exit route doors openable from the inside at all times without keys or tools | 162 | 162 | $1,964 |
| 1910.36(g)(2) | Minimum exit access width of 28 inches | 103 | 103 | $1,703 |
| 1910.36(d)(2) | 10 | 10 | $1,474 | |
| 1910.36(g)(4) | 10 | 10 | $525 | |
| 1910.36(e)(1) | 8 | 8 | $50 | |
| 1910.36(b)(1) | Number of exit routes adequate for the workplace | 6 | 6 | $0 |
| 1910.36(h)(2) | 6 | 6 | $2,692 | |
| 1910.36(c)(1) | 5 | 5 | $2,100 | |
| 1910.36(e)(2) | 5 | 5 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.36(d)(3) | 2 | 2 | $2,125 | |
| 1910.36(g)(1) | 2 | 2 | $4,096 | |
| 1910.36(h)(3) | 2 | 2 | $625 | |
| 1910.36(a)(3) | 1 | 1 | $6,622 | |
| 1910.36(d) | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 323 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $1,197,578 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $1,008,660, 16% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 72%; Other-than-serious 26%; Repeat 2%; Willful 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 39 | 44 | $111,748 | $86,240 |
| Tennessee | 23 | 25 | $14,700 | $14,412 |
| Virginia | 22 | 25 | $111,110 | $105,220 |
| New York | 21 | 22 | $70,290 | $66,535 |
| New Jersey | 17 | 17 | $106,847 | $95,718 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 18 | $28,150 | $27,090 |
| Arizona | 14 | 19 | $58,356 | $51,121 |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 15 | $70,271 | $56,106 |
| Nevada | 13 | 13 | $41,084 | $26,297 |
| Minnesota | 12 | 12 | $97,766 | $94,541 |
| Massachusetts | 9 | 12 | $39,456 | $30,781 |
| Connecticut | 7 | 10 | $9,883 | $4,793 |
| Illinois | 7 | 7 | $31,400 | $20,811 |
| Maryland | 7 | 7 | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 7 | $3,783 | $2,837 |
| South Carolina | 6 | 6 | $12,625 | $11,875 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 6 | 6 | $17,732 | $12,961 |
| Idaho | 5 | 5 | $11,348 | $8,851 |
| Utah | 5 | 5 | $5,251 | $3,676 |
| Georgia | 4 | 4 | $7,632 | $4,579 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 69 inspections
- Retail trade: 47 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 28 inspections
- Public administration: 25 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 22 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 19 inspections
- Health care & social assistance: 17 inspections
- Other services: 15 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of War Education Activity | Fort Buchanan, PR | Sep 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 25, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Valerio's Tropical Bakeshop IV, Inc. | Las Vegas, NV | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,206 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| McNairy County - Library | Selmer, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| International Warehousing & Shipping LLC | Mobile, AL | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 24, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| OCM PR LLC | Arecibo, PR | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contested Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M. Cutone Mushroom Company, Inc. | Chelsea, MA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $2,894 | $800 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Art Stone-Granite & Marble, Inc. | Marietta, GA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $2,554 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Northeast Battery & Alternator, LLC | Gambrills, MD | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 31, 2026Contested Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Boston Public Library | Roslindale, MA | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lasership | Orlando, FL | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $14,188 | $9,932 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Yuma, AZ | Aug 14, 2026 | 2 | $24,118 | $16,883 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sanico, Inc. | Syracuse, NY | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $6,620 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Concentric, LLC | Thaxton, VA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 2, 2026Contested Aug 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Agriculture ? FS-Idaho Panhandle National Forests | Coeur D Alene, ID | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| National Cold Storage | Bonner Springs, KS | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $7,093 | $4,256 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Porter's Wood Product | Boykins, VA | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $2,065 | $2,065 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Warehouse | High Point, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #6 | High Point, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| RPS Automotive LLC | Murray, KY | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #5 | Greensboro, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #1 | Jamestown, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #2 | High Point, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #3 | High Point, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| High Point ABC Board - Store #8 | High Point, NC | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Olean Town Highway Department | Olean, NY | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| A.P. Deauville LLC | Easton, PA | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $6,149 | $6,149 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 26, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Ashaway Line & Twine MFG. Co. | Ashaway, RI | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $4,220 | $2,532 | Formal settlementAbatement due Oct 15, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Par Mar Oil Company | Bradenville, PA | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $6,600 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tropical Products Inc. | Salem, MA | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $6,620 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Animal Inn, LLC | Carlisle, PA | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Aug 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 25, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Department of Military Affairs Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy | Virginia Beach, VA | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Hartford, CT | Aug 3, 2026 | 2 | $5,426 | $2,713 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rail Modal Group | Kansas City, MO | Jul 31, 2026 | 2 | $8,512 | $5,107 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jewel Food Stores, Inc. dba Jewel-Osco | Stickney, IL | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $7,093 | $4,965 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dominos Pizza LLC | Erlanger, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Memphis Masterworks, LLC | Memphis, TN | Jul 24, 2026 | 2 | $1,200 | $1,200 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Utica City Fire Department Fire Academy | Utica, NY | Jul 23, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tractor Supply Co. | Trexlertown, PA | Jul 23, 2026 | 1 | $6,029 | $4,522 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| VI Department of Human Services | Christiansted, VI | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kazi Restaurants of Hawaii Inc. | Lihue, HI | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $3,783 | $2,837 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.37 Exit Route Maintenance (116 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (96 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (91 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (91 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (65 shared inspections)
- 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces (51 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (49 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (43 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.36 require?
Sets basic design rules for exit routes so employees can leave a building safely during a fire or other emergency. Exit routes must be permanent, separated by fire-resistant materials where required, and adequate in number for the size of the building and its occupants, normally at least two. Exit doors must be unlocked from the inside and side-hinged where required, and routes must meet minimum width and ceiling-height dimensions and lead to an outside area or refuge.
How often was 1910.36 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.36 (Exit Route Design) appeared in 292 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 323 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.36 is cited most?
1910.36(d)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 162 items: Exit route doors openable from the inside at all times without keys or tools
Which states cite 1910.36 most often?
The most citations under 1910.36 in this period were issued in Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virginia.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.36 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $1,703; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $1,157. Totals: $1,197,578 proposed, $1,008,660 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.36 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 14% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.