fire alarm tests

[redbird]

They are testing the building fire alarms. Repeatedly and at length. Each time, they sound an alarm and turn on strobe lights, then use the PA to explain that they're testing, and "please disregard all audible signals and fire strobes." The strobes go on longer than the alarm. I hate strobe lights. I've been spending chunks of time with my eyes closed and my hands over them, muttering things like "600 milligrams BID, I'll be okay" (I take it for other reasons, but one of my medications is an anti-seizure drug). And it occurs to me that there is no way to use a PA system to inform deaf people that they can ignore the strobes; we just have to hope that any deaf people who are here right now either read the signs in the lobby, or will be reassured by their hearing coworkers.

At least I'm being paid for this.

Comments

[baratron.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard of strobe lights being used as a fire alarm before. Is this common in the US? It seems odd for a company to be aware enough of disability to make allowances for people with one kind of disability (deafness), but be so utterly unaware of the issues of people with another kind of disability (epilepsy).