united-states employment liability negligence
Are emergency alarms/notification systems required at places of employment?
<p>Suppose I own a business and have lots of employees who come to a location I own, work eight hours, and then leave and go home at the end of the day. An employee points out to me that he is concerned about the emergency alarm system which warns employees at the location about fires, tornadoes, and the like. Am I required to provide such an alarm/notification system to employees and/or other persons who are on the property where my business is located? Specifically:</p>

<ul>
<li>Is it typically required by city/building codes?</li>
<li>Is it typically required by labor regulations or OSHA?</li>
<li>Do common-law principles requiring that I take reasonable care to ensure the safety of those on my property cover this sort of thing?</li>
<li>Where must I make the alarm/notification visible/audible? Certain rooms? Most rooms? All interior areas? All interior areas and immediately outside the building? Do I need something in the parking lot(s) as well? Assume that all of this is my private property.</li>
<li>In what ways would I be liable for injury, death and/or loss of property which were reasonably caused by my failure to add alarm/notification systems? Civilly? Criminally?</li>
</ul>

<p>Does having received or having not received notification from an employee about the dangers of not having such system(s) in place change any of the above?</p>

<p>Bonus points:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>If the employee pointed this out in good faith, assuming at-will employment, what repercussions (if any) would there be if I terminated said employee?</p></li>
<li><p>If the employee pointed this out in <em>bad</em> faith, but the complaint is factually correct, does that change (or not) the answer to the above?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>EDIT - if a specific locale is required to provide a meaningful answer, let's say Montgomery, AL, USA, commercially zoned near the downtown area within city limits. That said - I would prefer if answers focused on more general principles than only pulling that city's municipal code.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Am I required to provide such an alarm/notification system to
  employees and/or other persons who are on the property where my
  business is located?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes, by Federal Law. As well as many state and local laws.</p>

<p>The best places to start are <a href="http://www.firemarshal.alabama.gov/" rel="nofollow">http://www.firemarshal.alabama.gov/</a> and <a href="https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Does having received or having not received notification from an
  employee about the dangers of not having such system(s) in place
  change any of the above?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You are the employer; you are liable for the lack of legally adequate alarm systems and are required to follow all federal and state fire codes.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In what ways would I be liable for injury, death and/or loss of
  property which were reasonably caused by my failure to add
  alarm/notification systems? Civilly? Criminally?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>At least criminally, but there could also be civil liability.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If the employee pointed this out in good faith, assuming at-will
  employment, what repercussions (if any) would there be if I terminated
  said employee?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Your lawyer can tell you if you could be charged under various whistleblower statutes.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If the employee pointed this out in bad faith, but the complaint is
  factually correct, does that change (or not) the answer to the above?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Ask your lawyer.</p>
