×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

(OP)
I am trying to locate any information I can find regarding this issue.  I work in a doctor's office, and I was recently designated the "Safety Officer".  I am trying to tell him that as an OBVIOUS exit - you can see outside to the parking lot, it must remain unlocked during business hours.  It is marked with a lit sign as an exit (which he wants me to remove), above the door, and a lit sign in the primary walkway indicating it as such (which he wants me to modify so the arrow points to a door three times further away, and not plainly visible).  He does not want people getting in from the outside (not possible dut to the mag-lock), or patients leaving before they "pay their bill".  The maglock (650 pounds) has a HUGE 3 x 3 button immediately to the left of the door, easily accessible for emergency exiting, but if pushed in an emergency, the door will still not open - 'cause it's locked, and I believe that if an alarm occurs, it is automatically released anyway, still to no effect.

How close am I to the target?  Should I just let him get the citation, should an inspection occur?  Would it be my fault, as the designated safety officer?  PLEASE HELP!!!  Any codes anybody might find that I can print would be helpful, also.  Thanks, in advance!

David

RE: Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

This is not an OSHA issue, but one of life safety.

This issue is addressed by your prevailing building code and by NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.  The exit cannot be locked during business hours and it must be clearly marked with a lighted sign.

RE: Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

This is an engineering forum. All the engineering ethical codes I'm aware of place public safety above an engineer's obligation to his/her employer.

RE: Exits - marked, but locked, also with mag-lock

Everywhere you go you will find emergency exist that have an alarm.  Perhaps this suits your needs and the employer may spring for this cost.

John

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources