AEM and CGA Launch Initiative to Promote Safe Digging Practices with New Decal

📅 6 days ago

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the Common Ground Alliance are promoting the addition of 811 reminder decals on equipment to enhance safety and reduce underground utility strikes.

In Alexandria, Virginia, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) have joined forces to enhance awareness regarding safe digging practices. Their collaborative effort aims to provide consistent guidance across the industry and to encourage adherence to the critical practice of contacting 811 prior to any digging activities or operation of equipment near underground infrastructure. To further this initiative, AEM and CGA have proposed that manufacturers of non-highway equipment incorporate an 811 reminder decal on machinery that may inadvertently disturb underground utilities. Such disturbances can lead to significant consequences, including power outages, interruptions in utility services, and potential injuries or fatalities for both operators and bystanders. The proposed decal serves as a reminder for operators to reach out to 811 to have underground utilities marked before commencing their work. This recommendation is targeted to be implemented on all relevant new equipment sold in the U.S. market by August 2027.
Megan Tanel, the president and CEO of AEM, emphasized the importance of safety in the machinery manufacturing sector, stating, "Our members build the machines that build, feed and power the world, and safety is central to that work." She highlighted that the addition of an 811 decal is a straightforward yet impactful method for equipment manufacturers to ensure that operators remember to contact 811 prior to digging or working near underground infrastructure. This initiative, which has received endorsement from the boards of both organizations, positions equipment operators as the final safeguard against strikes to underground utilities.
In the year 2025 alone, the CGA reported an alarming 213,985 incidents of damage to underground infrastructure across the United States. This initiative is aligned with CGA’s mission to minimize such damages and to ensure the safety of both workers and the communities that rely on essential utilities. Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, president and CEO of CGA, remarked, "Preventing damage to underground infrastructure is a shared responsibility, and this best practice will remind equipment operators closest to the dig to contact 811 before starting their work." By collaborating with non-road equipment manufacturers, the organizations aim to reach operators before any digging occurs, thereby addressing the primary cause of damages: the failure to contact 811.
The recommendation encompasses both new and existing equipment. For new machinery, manufacturers participating in the program will apply the decal during the production process. Existing equipment owners can obtain a no-cost license from CGA to reproduce the official 811 decal and retrofit their machinery fleets. Detailed information regarding the program, including artwork and licensing, is available on the CGA’s website.
Importantly, the emphasis on safe digging transcends the construction industry. Agricultural operators, for instance, face risks of striking underground lines while working in fields, farmyards, and rural rights-of-way. This makes the reminder relevant across various sectors where digging or impact on underground infrastructure may occur. Kevin Thomas, executive vice-president of the Industrial Equipment Division at Alamo Group Inc. and chair of The Utility Expo 2027, noted, "As manufacturers, we provide the equipment, so we have a role to play in reminding every operator to contact 811 if the ground is not clearly marked for utilities." He also indicated that attendees at The Utility Expo 2027 can expect to see this decal prominently displayed on equipment throughout the event, signaling the industry's commitment to damage prevention.

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