• Employers must install and maintain alarm systems to warn employees of fire and other dangers.
• Alarm systems should be inclusive of persons with disabilities (for example, a flashing light to warn hearing impaired employees and visitors).

With some exceptions, OSHA's employee alarm systems standard at 1910.165 applies to all emergency employee alarms installed to meet a particular OSHA standard. Standards that require or reference alarm systems include 1910.37, .38, .66, .106, .120, .157, .160, .161, .162, and .164. Under 1910.165, the alarm system must:

• Provide warning for emergency action as called for in the emergency action plan (EAP) or enough reaction time for employees to safely escape,
• Be capable of being perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in affected work areas,
• Be distinctive and recognizable as a signal to evacuate or take actions under the EAP,
• Be maintained in operating condition, and
• Be tested and maintained as specified by the standard.

Other requirements relate to employee training, emergency phone numbers, alarm sounding procedures, approved devices/components, alarm restoration after each test/alarm, power supplies and backup means of alarm, qualified persons, and manually operated actuation devices.