A panic actuator having a base with an operator rotatably mounted on the base. The operator can be rotated on the base by a first force applied to the operator on one side of the base to transmit a second force from the operator on the other side of the base. A locking post on a folding closure, the post having a locking unit with a sliding latch within the post, employs the actuator. The actuator is mounted on the locking unit within the post to extend both within the locking unit to contact the latch and outside the post to operate the actuator.