Means of Egress - 922-1-IPG-032

1. Subject

Application of Section 2.1 of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations to means of egress in primary elevators.

2. Issue

In the grain industry, new primary elevators are being built and major alterations are being made to existing primary elevators. The concern has been raised regarding the number of means of egress required in new primary elevators and in primary elevators undergoing major alterations.

3. Question

How many means of egress are required in new primary elevators and in primary elevators undergoing major alterations?

4. Conclusion

All new primary elevators and all primary elevators undergoing major alterations must have a minimum of two means of egress:

1. the first means of egress being the manlift and associated ladder inside the primary elevator; and,
2. the second means of egress may be an exterior ladder extendible to the ground.

Note: "major alterations" means any change or addition to a primary elevator, other than ordinary repairs or replacements, which changes the storage capacity of the primary elevator by more than twenty five percent (25%).