OHSAS 18001 - Work Area Design Standards

[Romel Cacatian]

We were task to redesign our work area for the improvement of the health and safety of our production workers. I've been searching for a standard on industrial setting on the standard floor area per person, number of emergency exits per work area, size of doors and exits, standard time to evacuate, maximum distance from workplace to exits.

Is there a standard for the above concerns? Best practice perhaps?

[Jennifer Kirley]

This is a good question.

Local ordinances and regulations dictate the number of fire exits, clearance to firefighting equipment, and so on for fire.

OSHA has a site for making emergency evacuation plans. The shop layout example shows how the tools and fixtures are positioned to allow, and plan, an orderly and timely emergency egress. Note there are escape doors on three sides of the building.

OSHA's site also gives directions for emergency exits.

Standard walkway width is 42 inches as I recall.

[samsung]

Originally Posted by Romel Cacatian

We were task to redesign our work area for the improvement of the health and safety of our production workers. I've been searching for a standard on industrial setting on the standard floor area per person, number of emergency exits per work area, size of doors and exits, standard time to evacuate, maximum distance from workplace to exits.

Is there a standard for the above concerns? Best practice perhaps?

I am not aware of other countries, but in India there is a standard named "National Building Code" for general factory layout & workplace designing & 'National Electricity Code' for designing the framework for electrical cable, appliances, motors etc.. In addition, as Jennifer has pointed out, wealth of information is also available in local legislation (Rules/regulations) pertaining to health & safety. e.g. in my country, it is 'The Factories Act' & 'State Factory Rules', in UK, I suppose, it is Health & Safety Act and the like.

[harry]

Originally Posted by Romel Cacatian

We were task to redesign our work area for the improvement of the health and safety of our production workers. I've been searching for a standard on industrial setting on the standard floor area per person, number of emergency exits per work area, size of doors and exits, standard time to evacuate, maximum distance from workplace to exits.

Is there a standard for the above concerns? Best practice perhaps?

If you are following British practice, refer to BS 5588, BS 5499 & BS 9999. Our local codes are derived primarily from BS 5588. BS 5588 is a series of standards.

[Romel Cacatian]

Thank you very much for the inputs. I have a question: what if there is no local regulation available for a particular region or country, what is the most acceptable standard to adopt? Is there a heirarchy of standards to follow?

Lets say that there are four regulation/standards (A-Municipal; B-Regional; C-National; D-International). What would be the order of choice for chosing the regulation/standard? Is it A-B-C-D or D-C-B-A?

[harry]

what if there is no local regulation available for a particular region or country, what is the most acceptable standard to adopt? Is there a heirarchy of standards to follow?

I am not sure about the others but the documents I referred to in my previous post is not directly related to OHSAS but they are guidelines or bylaws used by architects or engineers for designing buildings/industrial buildings.

I am sure they exist in many places because they are fundamentally used to regulate development. If they don't it is up to you to choose. Otherwise, have a word with the local architect to understand what he adopted.

[Jennifer Kirley]

Originally Posted by Romel Cacatian

Thank you very much for the inputs. I have a question: what if there is no local regulation available for a particular region or country, what is the most acceptable standard to adopt? Is there a heirarchy of standards to follow?

Lets say that there are four regulation/standards (A-Municipal; B-Regional; C-National; D-International). What would be the order of choice for chosing the regulation/standard? Is it A-B-C-D or D-C-B-A?

Typical hierarchy of standards is D-C-B-A. If your locality does not have any requirements to guide you, I suggest OSHA because the organization does provide a good number of specifics, has published guidance letters to help explain the requirements, and is available all the time on the internet.