Abstract: An appliance safety alarm including a first sensing circuit for detecting operation of the appliance, a second sensing circuit for detecting when an access cover, such as a dryer door or washer lid, is in the open condition, and a control circuit having first and second inputs in connection with the first and second sensing circuits and having an output controlling an audible alerting device. The control circuit is constructed in a manner to provide an activation signal to the audible alerting device when the access cover is opened while the appliance is in operation and when the access cover remains open for more than a predetermined period when the appliance is not in operation.