1910.38(d): Employee Alarm System for Emergencies
Employers covered by the emergency action plan rule must have and maintain an employee alarm system. It must use a distinctive signal for each purpose and comply with 1910.165.
Key takeaways
- 1910.38(d) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart E).
- OSHA cited it 19 times in the last 3 years, in 19 inspections, with $115,235 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (8), VA (2), CA (1).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.38(d) ("Employee alarm system") is one requirement inside 1910.38 Emergency action plans, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart E). 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
(d) Employee alarm system. An employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system. The employee alarm system must use a distinctive signal for each purpose and comply with the requirements in § 1910.165. 19 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.38.
Export the list: 19 inspections cited 1910.38(d) 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 1910.38(d).
At 2:40 p.m. on May 17, 2024, Employee #1 was working in the Mud Recovery Tank (MRT) area, monitoring the shakers and the volumes of other tanks as materials were transferred from the truck off-load area. A co-worker was nearby in the washout bay, unhooking…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: TX (8), VA (2), CA (1), PR (1), IN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CACIQUE FOODS LLC | AMARILLO, TX | $16,550 |
| ROEHM AMERICA, LLC | BAY CITY, TX | $16,550 |
| SWIFT BEEF COMPANY | CACTUS, TX | $16,131 |
| PANHANDLE MILLING, LLC | DAWN, TX | $13,902 |
| GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. | MARION, VA | $10,325 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.38(d).
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Frequently asked questions
Must an employer have an alarm system?
Yes. Under this rule the employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system.
Can one sound be used for every emergency?
No. The system must use a distinctive signal for each purpose.
What other rule applies?
The alarm system must comply with 1910.165.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.38 (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 2026-11-06
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.