Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.157(b)(1): Where the employer has established and implemented a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal and which includes an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan which meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1910.39 respectively, and when extinguishers are not available in the workplace, the employer is exempt from all requirements of this section unless a specific standard in part 1910 requires that a portable fire extinguisher be provided: (a) The employer is failing to protect employees from hazards associated with fire emergencies, such as, but not limited to burns, smoke inhalation, and death. Where the employer opted for use of a fire safety policy calling for total facility evacuation upon alarm sound, requiring an emergency action plan compliant with 1910.38 and fire prevention plan compliant with 1910.39, the employer was deficient in providing an education program to employees on the Emergency Action Plan upon initial hire and annually thereafter. Further, did not ensure the plan was kept in a ready and accessible location for employee inspection, ensured the fire exit route map is updated and exits properly marked when routes are altered. This violation may be abated by ensuring compliance with all portions of 1910.38. The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.157(b)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1012373, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 03/10/2015, with respect to a workplace located at 59 N. 5th Street, Reading, PA 19601. NOTE: Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation. The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos, which you believe will be helpful. The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citation(s).