The Importance of Panic Bars for Workplace Safety

It’s an easy aspect of a business to overlook, but panic bars, and other exit devices, are a critical component when it comes to ensuring the safety of both employees and patrons in a commercial or industrial workspace. In the advent of a disaster such as a fire or even an active shooter situation, panic bars allow for an easy way to evacuate a building as quickly as possible. 

They are in place to minimize the risk of injury and even death. This means that legal liability is effectively reduced in addition to promoting a safer work environment. The presence of panic bars alone can assure workers and patrons that safety is just a step away via this familiar exit device. From regulatory reasons to basic business responsibility, we look at the importance of panic bars for workplace safety.

A Quick Glance and the Benefits of a Panic Bar

1. Accessibility: As mentioned, the purpose of a panic bar, also referred to as push bars, is to allow for quick egress of the building if a life-threatening incident takes place. A rapid evacuation is essential when needed. While the obvious hope is that a panic bar will never be used, at least in a panic, the wiser choice is to make sure that one is always in place.

2. Access and Safety: While panic bars allow patrons and workers to exit freely as needed, they also protect a business or building from unauthorized access from the outside. Most panic bars are equipped with or linked to a locking mechanism that ensures that the door cannot be breached by outside intruders. This allows for a comforting sense of balance when it comes to protecting your business and essential inventory.

3. Reduce Liability and Risk: Even if a small and mostly harmless incident requires an immediate evacuation, your business can be affected by how well or how poorly that evacuation is executed. Often, word of mouth can do more damage than a quickly contained fire if a rush to exit is bottlenecked and patrons feel threatened or unsafe. With a panic bar in place, risk and liability issues are drastically reduced.

   Also, there is the matter of actual law. Business owners who fail to provide either a panic bar or other mandated emergency exit systems and hardware are very likely to be subjected to fines or even lawsuits. This can needlessly create considerable financial issues when it comes to operating your business in a commercially zoned building. The recommendation here is to keep the laws and fire inspector happy by way of this simple and effective compliance.

   It’s important you’re aware of your local regulations; Dallas’ access control requirements can be found here, as an example.

4. Peace of Mind: It’s more subliminal than not but the presence of a panic bar quietly assures workers and patrons alike that there is no real need to panic. Of course, panic is a natural response when it comes to a serious emergency. However, the silent realization that panic bars are already in place can help to keep building occupants more alert and aware if/when an emergency develops.

   This means that an evacuation is more likely to be ruled by calm instead of chaos. Once occupants of a building or business realize that panic bars are easily accessible, the need to evacuate will be met with a more controlled sense of respect and understanding. This prevents patrons and workers from a possible stampede and other potential harm that could quickly come about by a disorganized or bottlenecked rush for safety.

5. Accommodates a Diverse Workspace Environment: These days almost all panic bars are ADA approved or live up to ADA standards. Panic bars come in a variety of sizes so be sure to consider wider doors for wheelchair accommodation. Those with mobility issues will want to know that you care for their business and patronage as well. Also, the American Disabilities Act requires your business or building to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Failure to comply allows inspectors to issue more fines, or worse, until compliance is met. 

Panic Bar Compliancy is Real

As well as the aforementioned ADA, there are a number of other safety regulators who call for compliance when it comes to panic bars and fire door exits. The National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code as well as The International Building Code and the ever-popular American workplace regulator OSHA all call for panic bars and other like-minded emergency exit signage and hardware to be in place. These codes are particularly enforced when it comes to areas or venues that support a large capacity of patrons and workers. Theaters, large retail spaces and factories all fall under the legal microscope when it comes to enforcing these needful requirements. 

What is the minimum legal capacity when it comes to compliancy? Generally speaking, panic bars are most often required in workplaces or venues that support more than 50 occupants at a time. This includes employees and patrons alike. 

However, it might also be wise to consider panic bars in smaller businesses or venues if the emergency signage leads to a narrowed hallway exit, let’s say, in the back of a building. A properly installed panic bar in a location like this allows for quick egress. However, if an emergency exit is not properly anticipated in these smaller venues and tighter locations then serious harm or even death is possible in a panicked situation. 

Panic Bars are There to Protect Your Patrons and Your Business

The importance of panic bars cannot be overstated. The hope, of course, is that they remain unneeded and behind the scenes and never used aside from calmly entering or exiting the building. However, if one is needed and is not there, this could create serious issues for your building or business. 

Are you up to code? Do you need a new panic bar or does your current panic bar not work properly or require inspection? We can help make sure that your business is compliant and stays compliant. Give A-1 Locksmith a call today and let our crew of experts answer all of your panic bar questions.