1910.165(b): Employee Alarm System Requirements
Employers must have alarms that warn for emergency action or safe escape, can be perceived above ambient noise or light by all affected workers (tactile devices allowed), and are distinctive. Employers must explain how to report emergencies, post emergency phone numbers where phones are used for reporting, give emergency messages priority, and set procedures for sounding alarms; workplaces with 10 or fewer employees may use direct voice if all can hear.
Key takeaways
- 1910.165(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 33 times in the last 3 years, in 29 inspections, with $218,976 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (7), PA (5), VA (3).
- Related part: 1910.165(b)(2) (11 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
Get the free 5-minute toolbox talk on 1910.165(b) ↓
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.165(b) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1910.165 Employee alarm systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart L). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. 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
(b) General requirements. 33 citations
(1) The employee alarm system shall provide warning for necessary emergency action as called for in the emergency action plan, or for reaction time for safe escape of employees from the workplace or the immediate work area, or both. 9 citations
(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. Open (b)(2) 11 citations
(3) The employee alarm shall be distinctive and recognizable as a signal to evacuate the work area or to perform actions designated under the emergency action plan. Open (b)(3) 3 citations
(4) The employer shall explain to each employee the preferred means of reporting emergencies, such as manual pull box alarms, public address systems, radio or telephones. The employer shall post emergency telephone numbers near telephones, or employee notice boards, and other conspicuous locations when telephones serve as a means of reporting emergencies. Where a communication system also serves as the employee alarm system, all emergency messages shall have priority over all non-emergency messages. Open (b)(4) 3 citations
(5) The employer shall establish procedures for sounding emergency alarms in the workplace. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees in a particular workplace, direct voice communication is an acceptable procedure for sounding the alarm provided all employees can hear the alarm. Such workplaces need not have a back-up system. Open (b)(5) 7 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.165.
Export the list: 29 inspections cited 1910.165(b) 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).
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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 11 |
Top states: TX (7), PA (5), VA (3), TN (2), CO (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| KRAFT HEINZ | MUSCATINE, IA | $110,000 |
| ARDENT MILLS, LLC | EASTON, PA | $15,000 |
| GOODRICH CORPORATION | PUEBLO, CO | $11,524 |
| GEORGIA PACIFIC WOOD PRODUCTS | CAMDEN, TX | $10,758 |
| WALMART STORES, INC. | VINELAND, NJ | $10,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.165(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.165(b).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.165(b)(2) 11 citations
- 1910.165(b)(5) 7 citations
- 1910.165(b)(3) 3 citations
- 1910.165(b)(4) 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Must alarms be heard over workplace noise?
Yes. They must be perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in affected areas.
Can a small workplace use voice instead of an alarm?
Employers with 10 or fewer employees at a workplace may use direct voice communication if all employees can hear it, with no back-up system needed.
Where must emergency numbers be posted?
Near telephones, on employee notice boards and other conspicuous locations when phones are used to report emergencies.
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 2026-11-06
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.