Emergency lighting and floor-load signs

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

January 29, 1975

Mr. E. E. Anderson,
Safety Assistant
U. S. Post Office,
Safety Section
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Anderson:

In regard to your request forwarded this office, I offer the following comments as related to private employer responsibility under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

There are no specific requirements that emergency lighting be provided in the OSHA Standards. The standard you may have reference to as required by 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(6) merely states that adequate and reliable illumination must be provided for all exit facilities of buildings or structures equipped for artificial illumination. This requirement does not address itself to emergency lighting.

On the subject of floor loading protection, 29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1) requires every building or structure be provided with marked plates indicating the loads approved by the building official for the structure. Although the standard in question states that the owner of the building or his authorized agent must supply and securely affix the plates, Section 5(a)(2) of the Act places the responsibility for compliance with the OSHA Standards on the employer to ensure his employees a safe and healthful workplace.

If I may be of further assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely yours,
C. R. HOLDER
Associate Assistant
Regional Director for
Technical Support