‘Turn off your cell phone while operating off-road equipment’ is the key message from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in a new jointly developed safety alert that emphasizes the hazards of distracted driving while on the worksite.
The downloadable safety alert can be posted on bulletin boards, used in safety talks or given to contractors and miners as a handout.
The alert is the latest project from the AEM/MSHA alliance, which focuses on best practices to minimize risks in equipment operation and maintenance.
The alert cites data on cell phone use in the automotive industry “that can be translated into the operation of off-road equipment,” including:
-The risks of using a cell phone while operating mobile equipment can be up to six times worse than the risks of operating mobile equipment while intoxicated
-Writing or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds and at 55 MPH, that’s like driving the length of a football field blindfolded
AEM supports safety awareness year-round by offering an extensive array of safety products, including safety manuals and videos, with major equipment types covering aerial, agriculture, compact/portable, earthmoving, forestry, lifting, road paving and utility excavation applications.
About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 850 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the world capitals of Washington,, DC; Ottawa, Canada; and Beijing, China.
