1910.165(b)(2): Alarms Everyone Can Perceive
Employers must make sure the employee alarm can be perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in the affected parts of the workplace. Tactile devices may be used for employees who would not otherwise recognize an audible or visual alarm.
Key takeaways
- 1910.165(b)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 11 inspections, with $46,961 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PA (4), TX (2), NY (1).
- Related part: 1910.165(b) General requirements (33 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.165(b)(2) is one requirement inside 1910.165 Employee alarm systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart L). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) The employee alarm shall be capable of being perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in the affected portions of the workplace. Tactile devices may be used to alert those employees who would not otherwise be able to recognize the audible or visual alarm. 11 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.165.
Export the list: 11 inspections cited 1910.165(b)(2) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.165(b)(2).
At 3:45 a.m. on December 5, 2023, three employees were operating a resaw stacker. Coworker #1 was operating the infeed side, while Coworker #2 trained Employee #1 on operating the stacker side. The resaw stacker takes pre-cut boards and rips them down to smaller sizes…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: PA (4), TX (2), NY (1), WI (1), CT (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ARDENT MILLS, LLC | EASTON, PA | $15,000 |
| GEORGIA PACIFIC WOOD PRODUCTS | CAMDEN, TX | $10,758 |
| HUB GROUP INC. | TAYLOR, PA | $7,566 |
| DIVERSIFIED COATINGS, INC. | RIDGWAY, PA | $5,900 |
| KONZ WOOD PRODUCTS, INC. | APPLETON, WI | $4,437 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.165(b)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.165(b)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.165(b) General requirements 33 citations
- 1910.165(b)(5) 7 citations
- 1910.165(b)(3) 3 citations
- 1910.165(b)(4) 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who must be able to perceive the alarm?
All employees in the affected portions of the workplace.
What if a worker cannot hear or see the alarm?
Tactile devices may be used to alert them.
Must alarms beat background noise?
Yes. They must be perceived above ambient noise or light levels.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.165 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-05
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.