by Jbs020209a3 — February 4, 2009—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a reminder that alarm systems are crucial during emergencies in the workplace. OSHA offers the following suggestions for guaranteeing that a workplace has adequate means of alerting its employees in the event of an emergency:
- Ensure that employee alarm systems are recognizable and perceptible in every location during emergency conditions;
- Instruct employees on the location of alarm pull boxes;
- Train employees on all alarm and evacuation procedures and conduct periodic drills; and
- Post emergency phone numbers, including the numbers for the local fire department, hospitals and ambulances, police department, plant emergency services, fire brigade, or health center (if provided).
The employee alarm systems section in OSHA’s Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool provides employers with more details on the standard designed to reduce the severity of workplace incidents and injuries by ensuring that alarm systems operate properly and that procedures are in place to alert employees to workplace emergencies.
