Make up your mind! Apparently, this door is NOT an exit. But the moment’s confusion and hesitation that these mixed messages convey could prove deadly in a fire.

The Moral: According to OSHA, doorways or passages along an exit that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked “Not an Exit” or similar designation, or identified by a sign indicating their actual use, e.g., closet (Maintenance, Safeguards & Operational Features for Exit Routes, Sec. 1910.137(b)(5)).

But while posting “this is not an exit” signs over a door marked “FIRE EXIT” technically might not be an OSHA violation, removing the “FIRE EXIT” sign would be a much safer solution.