AEM Cel Alert
Don’t let your cellphone distract you while operating equipment — even off the road.
That’s the gist of a new joint safety alert from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Turn off your cellphone while operating off-road equipment” is the alert’s key message, according to a news release from the AEM.
The alert, which can be downloaded from the MSHA website, can be used in safety talks, handed out to miners and contractors, or posted on bulletin boards, the release said.
“We know in today’s connected world that it’s more important than ever to remind workers to focus on the job and be alert and aware and mindful of their environment and safety,” the news release quoted Mike Pankonin, AEM’s senior director of technical and safety services.
The MSHA alert notes that cellphones are involved in 6,000 automobile fatalities each year. The risks of automobile cellphone usage “can be translated into the operation of off-road equipment,” the alerts adds. For example, using a cellphone while operating mobile equipment can be up to six times riskier than operating that equipment while intoxicated. Texting a message can take an operator’s eyes off the task for five seconds — enough time for a vehicle travelling 55 miles an hour to cover the length of a football field.
“Cellphone usage on the job is a dangerous distraction and can lead to injury or death,” the news release quoted Joseph A. Main, U.S. assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Using a cellphone while operating mobile equipment takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off your task.”
For more information, visit www.msha.gov.