OSHA general industry exit routes and emergency planning practice questions
20 free practice questions from 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E. Each answer is explained and linked to the rule it comes from.
OSHA Exit routes and emergency planning
20 questions across 8 topics. After each answer you see why it is right, with a link to the official source.
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Coverage and definitions
1. Under the 1910.34(c) definition of self-luminous, which of these is given as an example of a self-contained power source?
- A. Batteries
- B. Tritium
- C. The building's electrical service
- D. Daylight from nearby windows
Show answer
Answer: B. Tritium
Self-luminous means "a light source that is illuminated by a self-contained power source (e.g., tritium) and that operates independently from external power sources." The definition adds that batteries are not acceptable self-contained power sources.
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.34, Coverage and definitions (as of Nov 3, 2026)
2. Sections 1910.34 through 1910.39 apply to workplaces in general industry, except which workplaces?
- A. Workplaces with 10 or fewer employees
- B. One-story buildings
- C. Office buildings
- D. Mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels
Show answer
Answer: D. Mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels
These sections "apply to workplaces in general industry except mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.34, Coverage and definitions (as of Nov 3, 2026)
Exit route design and construction
3. What does 1910.36(a)(3) require of each fire door that protects an opening into an exit, including its frame and hardware?
- A. It must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory
- B. It must be painted red
- C. It must be inspected by the local fire marshal every month
- D. It must be at least 3 inches thick
Show answer
Answer: A. It must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory
The rule says "Each fire door, including its frame and hardware, must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
4. Exit stairs continue past the level on which the exit discharge is located. What does 1910.36(c)(3) require at that level?
- A. Nothing, as long as the stairs are lighted
- B. A ramp in place of the lower flight
- C. Doors, partitions, or other effective means that interrupt the stairs and clearly indicate the direction of travel leading to the exit discharge
- D. A handrail extension, with nothing else
Show answer
Answer: C. Doors, partitions, or other effective means that interrupt the stairs and clearly indicate the direction of travel leading to the exit discharge
Such exit stairs "must be interrupted at that level by doors, partitions, or other effective means that clearly indicate the direction of travel leading to the exit discharge."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
5. An opening into an exit must be protected by what?
- A. A fabric curtain
- B. A door propped open with a wedge
- C. A sliding screen
- D. A self-closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency
Show answer
Answer: D. A self-closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency
"An opening into an exit must be protected by a self-closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency upon the sounding of a fire alarm or employee alarm system."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
Exit doors
6. What does 1910.36(d)(2) say about devices and alarms on exit route doors?
- A. The doors must be free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails
- B. Every exit route door must have an alarm that locks the door when it sounds
- C. A device may restrict use of the exit route if it is tested monthly
- D. Alarms may be fitted only to doors on the ground floor
Show answer
Answer: A. The doors must be free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails
The rule says "Exit route doors must be free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
7. A storage room used by 12 workers holds contents that are likely to burn with extreme rapidity. How must the side-hinged door connecting it to an exit route swing?
- A. In either direction, because fewer than 50 people occupy the room
- B. Inward, to keep a fire inside the room
- C. Out in the direction of exit travel, because the room is a high hazard area
- D. In either direction, as long as the door is side-hinged
Show answer
Answer: C. Out in the direction of exit travel, because the room is a high hazard area
The door "must swing out in the direction of exit travel if the room is designed to be occupied by more than 50 people or if the room is a high hazard area (i.e., contains contents that are likely to burn with extreme rapidity or explode)." The high hazard condition applies whatever the number of occupants.
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
8. Under 1910.36(d)(1), which locking device is permitted on exit discharge doors?
- A. A deadbolt that employees open from the inside with a key kept at the supervisor's desk
- B. A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside
- C. A padlock and chain on the inside push bar, removed only when an emergency is announced
- D. A keypad lock that employees open from the inside with a code given to them at hire
Show answer
Answer: B. A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside
Employees "must be able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge," and "A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted on exit discharge doors."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
Exit route capacity, height and width
9. What does 1910.36(f)(2) say about the capacity of an exit route along the way to the exit discharge?
- A. It may decrease by up to half
- B. It must double at each floor
- C. It may decrease once the route passes the first fire door
- D. It may not decrease in the direction of exit route travel to the exit discharge
Show answer
Answer: D. It may not decrease in the direction of exit route travel to the exit discharge
The rule says "The capacity of an exit route may not decrease in the direction of exit route travel to the exit discharge."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
10. Where only one exit access leads to an exit or exit discharge, how wide does 1910.36(g)(2) require the exit and exit discharge to be?
- A. At least half the width of the exit access
- B. At least equal to the width of the exit access
- C. At least 22 inches, whatever the exit access width
- D. Exactly 36 inches
Show answer
Answer: B. At least equal to the width of the exit access
"Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
11. An outdoor exit route has an unenclosed side where a fall hazard exists. What does 1910.36(h)(1) require for that side?
- A. Guardrails to protect the unenclosed side
- B. A painted yellow line along the edge, with no other measure
- C. A roof over the route, with no other measure
- D. A warning sign at each end of the route, with no other measure
Show answer
Answer: A. Guardrails to protect the unenclosed side
Each outdoor exit route must meet the indoor height and width rules and "The outdoor exit route must have guardrails to protect unenclosed sides if a fall hazard exists."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes (as of Nov 3, 2026)
Maintenance and safeguards
12. Under 1910.37(a)(3), which way may an exit access not go to reach an exit or exit discharge?
- A. Along a corridor
- B. Down a ramp where the exit route is not substantially level
- C. Through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom
- D. Past a doorway marked "Not an Exit"
Show answer
Answer: C. Through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom
The rule says "The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor." It also requires stairs or a ramp where the route is not substantially level.
13. Under 1910.37(e), when is an employer excused from installing and maintaining an operable employee alarm system?
- A. When the workplace has 10 or fewer employees
- B. When the building has an automatic sprinkler system
- C. When every exit is marked with an EXIT sign
- D. When employees can promptly see or smell a fire or other hazard in time to provide adequate warning to them
Show answer
Answer: D. When employees can promptly see or smell a fire or other hazard in time to provide adequate warning to them
Employers must install and maintain an operable employee alarm system "unless employees can promptly see or smell a fire or other hazard in time to provide adequate warning to them."
Exit lighting and signs
14. What does 1910.37(b)(3) say about decorations and signs on an exit route door?
- A. The door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure its visibility
- B. Seasonal decorations are allowed if they are fire retardant
- C. Any decoration is allowed if the exit sign above the door is lit
- D. Decorations are allowed on the inside face of the door only
Show answer
Answer: A. The door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure its visibility
The rule says "Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the exit route door."
15. If the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge is not immediately apparent, what does 1910.37(b)(4) require?
- A. A floor plan handed to each employee at hire
- B. Signs posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge
- C. A second exit door next to the first
- D. An employee posted at each corner during an emergency
Show answer
Answer: B. Signs posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge
In that case "signs must be posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge," and "the line-of-sight to an exit sign must clearly be visible at all times."
Emergency action plans
16. What does 1910.38(e) require the employer to do so that an evacuation is safe and orderly?
- A. Hire an outside evacuation company
- B. Hold an evacuation drill every month
- C. Designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees
- D. Install a public address system on every floor
Show answer
Answer: C. Designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees
Under the training paragraph, "An employer must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency action plans (as of Nov 3, 2026)
17. Which is one of the times 1910.38(f) requires the employer to review the emergency action plan with a covered employee?
- A. Only once every five years
- B. Only after an OSHA inspection
- C. Only when the employee asks
- D. When the employee's responsibilities under the plan change
Show answer
Answer: D. When the employee's responsibilities under the plan change
The employer must review the plan with each covered employee "When the plan is developed or the employee is assigned initially to a job," "When the employee's responsibilities under the plan change," and "When the plan is changed."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency action plans (as of Nov 3, 2026)
18. Employees may need more information about the emergency action plan or an explanation of their duties under it. What does 1910.38(c)(6) require the plan to include for this?
- A. The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan
- B. The telephone number of the nearest OSHA area office
- C. The full text of 1910.38 printed at the front of the plan
- D. Each employee's home telephone number
Show answer
Answer: A. The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan
One minimum element of the plan is "The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency action plans (as of Nov 3, 2026)
Fire prevention plans
19. Which item must a fire prevention plan include under 1910.39(c)?
- A. A list of employees' home phone numbers
- B. Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials
- C. The workplace's fire insurance premium
- D. A schedule of fire department social visits
Show answer
Answer: B. Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials
A fire prevention plan must include "Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.39, Fire prevention plans (as of Nov 3, 2026)
20. When must an employer inform employees of the fire hazards to which they are exposed?
- A. Only after a fire has occurred
- B. Only when an employee asks
- C. Upon initial assignment to a job
- D. Only when OSHA requests it
Show answer
Answer: C. Upon initial assignment to a job
"An employer must inform employees upon initial assignment to a job of the fire hazards to which they are exposed."
Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.39, Fire prevention plans (as of Nov 3, 2026)