In 2023, the U.S. experienced more than 222,000 preventable deaths, 62 million injuries, and $1,283.5 billion in injury-related costs.
June is National Safety Month, and AEM Safety Materials is proud to support the National Safety Council, advance the cause of worker safety, and continue its mission to produce valuable literature and publications designed to keep equipment operators safe.
“The message of safety is one we should never get complacent about. We need to wake up every day, 365 days a year, with a commitment to being safety conscious,” said AEM Safety Materials Manager Becca Basten.
AEM recently unveiled a free online safety toolkit designed to support safety awareness, education, and training for off-highway equipment used in the construction, agriculture, mining, utility, and forestry sectors.
Create your free account in the AEM Safety Toolkit here.
Since the first manual was published more than 50 years ago, AEM has worked diligently with its Safety & Product Leadership committees to develop consensus content for the safe operating practices of off-road equipment. These committees are made up of AEM member company OEMs, and even though they compete in the marketplace, they work together and agree to safety standards that affect their specific products. The resulting publications have come to be known simply as AEM Safety Materials.
As an established program, AEM emphasizes the value to its members of including its safety materials with their equipment before they ship. Every AEM member company wants to make sure they are doing everything possible to keep equipment operators safe. As such, many members not only agree to the content represented in the materials, but they also document the publications with part numbers in their manufacturing process. In many cases, the manuals are a registered part of the safety inspection before the equipment ever leaves the factory. This process ensures the materials are recognized as due diligence toward safe product manufacturing and that operators have the safety references they need.
The program is also unique, as the AEM safety manuals are the only association-published documents of their kind anywhere in the world. While individual manufacturing companies publish their own specific manuals for their equipment, the AEM manuals complement that documentation by reinforcing the OEM's risk management policies and strengthening the safety message to customers. The consensus content that members develop illustrates the strength of belonging to AEM. When member companies agree to best safety practices for their equipment, it benefits the entire industry and strengthens the association’s position on the importance of product safety and compliance.
Five Tips to Reinforce Safety
AEM Safety Materials supports and encourages industry participation in safety outreach and is also active in many organizations, coalitions, and programs advancing safety.
“In the routine of day-to-day activities, events such as National Safety Month are a reminder and an opportunity to elevate and emphasize the message of safety,” said Basten.
Worker safety has always been a priority for equipment manufacturers and the customers they serve. With that said, the association outlines five basic tops to help equipment end users stay safe:
- Take advantage of safety resources that are available.
- Be alert and know the work area and the equipment.
- Follow the rules of safe equipment preparation and start-up, operation, and maintenance.
- Set an example: For your well-being and the protection of others, encourage fellow workers to act safely.
- Put it in personal terms: Think what is important to you that makes you want to stay safe.
About AEM Safety Materials
AEM produces 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.
Explore the AEM Safety Toolkit and start building a safer jobsite today. Find the complete line of AEM safety materials here. Visit the National Safety Council online for more June National Safety Month information. Then, check out 10 Safety Tips for Operating New Technology-Driven Heavy Equipment and 13 FACTORS: Supporting Holistically Healthy Workers and Workplaces. Share this with your safety manager or crew lead.
