An evacuation plan is part of a company's Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
There should be exit routes that provide continuous and unobstructed travel from the workplace to a place of safety:
(1) 2 or more exit routes must be designated in most circumstances (a single route may be sufficient for a small number of employees or a small building)
(2) exits must be adequately constructed (doors made of fire-resistant materials, limited openings, height at least 7 feet 6 inches with minimum width 28 inches)
(3) exits must be properly maintained (free from clutter, projections and flammable materials)
(4) there should be emergency lighting and marking of routes
(5) doors must be unlocked on the inside and able to be opened at all times without keys, tools or special knowledge
(6) doors must swing in the direction of exit flow
People should be designated to supervise an evacuation. The goal is to avoid panic and to optimize the flow of people away from the hazard.
Employees should be familiarized with the evacuation plan through training and drills.
In addition, there should be criteria for situations when shelter-in-place indoors may be safer than to evacuate outside. This may include release of chemical, biological or radiation hazards.
