S.L. 646.8 Art. 7Emergency routes and exits.

(1) The employer shall take all the necessary steps to provide and maintain suitable and sufficient emergency routes and exits so that in the event of danger, workers and all persons therein can evacuate all the workplace and all parts thereof quickly and as safely as possible.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subregulation (1), the employer shall ensure that emergency routes and exits:

(a) are kept clear at all times, and lead as directly as possible to a safe, open air, specifically designated area outside the premises, which shall be on the ground floor: Provided that no lift shall be used as an emergency route unless such lift has been certified by a mechanical engineer as being safe to be used in emergencies: Provided further that all traffic routes and doors giving access to such emergency doors and exits shall also be free from obstruction so that they can be used at any time without hindrance;

(b) are of appropriate number, distribution, dimensions and layout, taking into consideration the use, equipment and dimensions of the workplaces and the maximum number of persons that may be present;

(c) if they require illumination, are provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case of failure of the normal lighting system;

(d) are indicated by adequate luminescent directional signs which shall be placed at appropriate locations, at a height of not more than three point five metres and not less than two metres from the floor level, and which are maintained in a good state.