1910.37 Exit Route Maintenance: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
This section focuses on keeping exit routes usable day to day. Exit routes must be free of obstructions such as stored materials and equipment, and must be adequately lit. Exits must be clearly marked with visible, illuminated "Exit" signs, directional signs must be posted where the way out is not obvious, and doors that could be mistaken for exits must be labeled "Not an Exit" or by their actual use. Exit routes must also be maintained during construction or repairs.
What the standard requires
- Keep exit routes and exit access free of obstructions
- Mark each exit with a clearly visible "Exit" sign
- Post directional signs where the direction to an exit is not apparent
- Label doors that could be mistaken for exits as "Not an Exit" or by their use
- Provide adequate lighting for exit routes
Hazards it addresses
- Delayed evacuation during fires
- Trapping of employees behind blocked exits
- Confusion and disorientation in smoke or darkness
Frequently cited in retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centers where stock blocks aisles and exits.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.37(a)(3) | Exit routes kept free and unobstructed | 345 | 345 | $788 |
| 1910.37(b)(2) | Each exit clearly visible and marked by an "Exit" sign | 289 | 289 | $0 |
| 1910.37(b)(6) | Exit signs illuminated and legible | 116 | 116 | $0 |
| 1910.37(b)(5) | Doors that are not exits labeled "Not an Exit" or with their actual use | 106 | 106 | $0 |
| 1910.37(a)(4) | 87 | 87 | $0 | |
| 1910.37(b)(4) | Directional signs where the exit direction is not immediately apparent | 59 | 59 | $0 |
| 1910.37(b)(1) | 30 | 30 | $0 | |
| 1910.37(a)(2) | 15 | 15 | $3,000 | |
| 1910.37(b)(7) | 8 | 8 | $0 | |
| 1910.37(e) | 6 | 6 | $6,250 | |
| 1910.37(a)(1) | 3 | 3 | $400 | |
| 1910.37(a) | 1 | 1 | $1,000 | |
| 1910.37(b)(3) | 1 | 1 | $2,837 | |
| 1910.37(d)(2) | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 1,067 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $2,002,756 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $1,378,323, 31% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 53%; Other-than-serious 45%; Repeat 1%; Willful 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 93 | 118 | $66,107 | $52,569 |
| Virginia | 82 | 110 | $94,465 | $85,520 |
| Tennessee | 66 | 79 | $11,650 | $11,567 |
| New Jersey | 55 | 70 | $439,505 | $329,184 |
| Connecticut | 46 | 66 | $36,327 | $20,345 |
| Nevada | 45 | 49 | $30,954 | $20,799 |
| Maryland | 36 | 46 | $3,900 | $2,460 |
| Minnesota | 36 | 42 | $36,500 | $25,415 |
| Illinois | 34 | 39 | $88,596 | $32,395 |
| Pennsylvania | 34 | 38 | $97,365 | $67,355 |
| Puerto Rico | 34 | 38 | $97,219 | $83,063 |
| North Carolina | 32 | 39 | $6,250 | $3,265 |
| Florida | 26 | 29 | $130,653 | $83,155 |
| Arizona | 25 | 27 | $40,597 | $32,384 |
| Massachusetts | 21 | 27 | $135,536 | $91,193 |
| Hawaii | 20 | 26 | $0 | $0 |
| Alaska | 16 | 18 | $10,663 | $3,618 |
| Texas | 16 | 19 | $265,587 | $132,401 |
| Georgia | 14 | 19 | $15,470 | $11,314 |
| Iowa | 10 | 11 | $65,968 | $45,546 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 214 inspections
- Retail trade: 103 inspections
- Public administration: 93 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 79 inspections
- Construction: 56 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 48 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 47 inspections
- Educational services: 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsville CSD Facilities Building | Williamsville, NY | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| EBM-Papst Inc. | Farmington, CT | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Oct 20, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Teg Hotels, LLC | Honolulu, HI | Sep 1, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| American Rheinmetall Systems, LLC | Biddeford, ME | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| First Choice Food Service of VA, Inc. | Wilson, NC | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| BP Hotel LLC | Carson City, NV | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 14, 2026Contested Sep 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| McNairy County - Library | Selmer, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Valle del Mar LLC | Juana Diaz, PR | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $3,015 | $1,508 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Lynbrook Vill DPW | Lynbrook, NY | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Colonial Distributing Holdings, Inc. | Pensacola, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | 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 |
| Bellmawr Liquors LLC | Bellmawr, NJ | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $1,760 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Growers' Co.-Operative Grape Juice Co., Inc. | Westfield, NY | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $2,870 | $2,870 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| CK Natural Fruit Juice | Westfield, NY | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $1,230 | $1,230 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Association of Apartment Owners of TK Resort Condominium | Lihue, HI | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Contrast Metalworks LLC | Pottstown, PA | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $2,412 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Tithe Corp. | Baltimore, MD | Aug 25, 2026 | 3 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 2, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Penfield, NY | Aug 25, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Terranetti Italian Bakery, Inc. | Mechanicsburg, PA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Atlas Roofing Corporation | Ridgeway, VA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Litens Distribution, Inc. | Perrysburg, OH | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,376 | $2,363 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Red Garter Operator, LLC | West Wendover, NV | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Art Stone-Granite & Marble, Inc. | Marietta, GA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kevin Court Pallets LLC | Louisville, KY | Aug 24, 2026 | 2 | $6,000 | $3,600 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lynbrook Vill Greis Park | Lynbrook, NY | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| City of Lasalle - Street Department | La Salle, IL | Aug 24, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative, Inc. | Celina, TN | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $225 | $202 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| M. Cutone Mushroom Company, Inc. | Chelsea, MA | Aug 24, 2026 | 3 | $2,170 | $800 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Specialty Chemical Systems, Inc. | Pottstown, PA | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $1,809 | $1,176 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| DHL Express (usa), Inc. | Anchorage, AK | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $7,235 | $3,618 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Owl's Nest Inc. | West Peoria, IL | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 30, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Comanche Stainless LLC | Middlesex, NJ | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contested Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Alaska Northern Courier | Anchorage, AK | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| U.S. Postal Service- Las Piedras | Las Piedras, PR | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $8,512 | $5,958 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jordan Volunteer Fire Department | Jordan, NY | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Twin County Tech, Inc. | Galax, VA | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $720 | $504 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Irondequoit Town DPW | Rochester, NY | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Boston Public Library | Roslindale, MA | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bayada Home Care | Lihue, HI | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.303 Electrical General (306 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (288 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (242 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (229 shared inspections)
- 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces (137 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (132 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (129 shared inspections)
- 1910.36 Exit Route Design (116 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.37 require?
This section focuses on keeping exit routes usable day to day. Exit routes must be free of obstructions such as stored materials and equipment, and must be adequately lit. Exits must be clearly marked with visible, illuminated "Exit" signs, directional signs must be posted where the way out is not obvious, and doors that could be mistaken for exits must be labeled "Not an Exit" or by their actual use. Exit routes must also be maintained during construction or repairs.
How often was 1910.37 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.37 (Exit Route Maintenance) appeared in 865 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 1,067 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.37 is cited most?
1910.37(a)(3) was the most-cited paragraph, with 345 items: Exit routes kept free and unobstructed
Which states cite 1910.37 most often?
The most citations under 1910.37 in this period were issued in New York, Virginia, Tennessee.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.37 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $0; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $2,002,756 proposed, $1,378,323 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.37 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 10% 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.