IAMU Informer
Follow IAMU!
  • Informer News Feed
  • IAMU Website

Toolbox Talk - Understand Your Warning Alarms

2/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Many workplaces have situations where employees must respond in a certain way when they hear a certain sound. In a world where we frequently hear bells, buzzers, beeps and other tones, the message may get lost or ignored. The following checklist, based on the article The Sounds of Safety by Linda Sherrard, is a reminder to ensure that our alarm system is appropriate for our needs and that employees understand the message being sent.

  • Is your alarm system designed based on the level and type of hazards present at the site? Is it monitored and updated as needed?

  • Does your alarm system include compliance with ADA and needs for visual as well as audible alarms? Are supervisors aware of those on site who are hearing-impaired?

  • Are all employees advised as to what the sounds mean? What about visitors and contractors?

  • Are employees advised as to actions needed to respond to the alarm, such as evacuation, special PPE, sheltering in place, safe locations for workplace violence situations, etc.?

  • Is each sound specific to the hazard and do employees understand how to get additional information if needed?

  • Are employees who wear hearing protection still able to hear the warning sounds? Is an alternative, such as having a watch person in place, available in the event there are problems?

  • Are employees aware of potential for disciplinary action for disabling alarms that are required, such as a forklift’s back-up alarm or turning down the intercom system?

  • Ensure that warning alarms are in working order or that a back-up system is available.

  • Make sure that training is repeated often. Employees that are not familiar with the sounds  may become confused and wait to hear further instructions or may simply ignore the alarm and do nothing.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to The Informer!

    * indicates required

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture

Copyright 2023 Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities