Backup alarms on construction equipment

June 25, 1982
Mr. Michel Lepointe
President
DAP Electronique Canada Limitee
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Lapointe:
This is in response to your letter of June 8, 1982, requesting requirements for back up alarms.
The Occupational Safety end Health Administration's (OSHA's) standard for back up alarms are contained in [29 CFR 1926.601(b)(4)] and in 29 CFR 1926.602(a)(9)(ii) (copy enclosed). Back up alarms complying with the above mentioned requirements are acceptable to this agency.
OSHA does not approve or endorse products for the following reasons:

1. Alteration or misapplication of an otherwise safe piece of equipment could easily create a hazardous condition beyond the control of the manufacturer.
2. The variable working conditions at job sites.

The compliance of "back up alarms" with our standards must therefore, be determined with the alarm actually in use under specific working conditions. However, upon submission of your design and specification criteria, we could supply you with a determination as to whether or not the equipment will meet the intent of the standard(s) when properly installed, used and maintained.
If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
John K. Barto, Chief
Division of Occupational Safety Programming
[Corrected 05/28/2004]