The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has produced a new brush chipper safety manual that outlines safe equipment operation, start-up and shutdown guidelines, and maintenance precautions for a variety of brush chipper machine types.

Manufacturer members working through AEM’s Environmental & Reduction Equipment Council (EREC) provided content development and review, with input also provided by AEM’s Forestry Equipment Council.

The manual is heavily illustrated with industry pictorials, and safety messages are presented in clear, readable text to aid understanding. The information is intended to supplement, not replace, manufacturer operating manuals. “Manufacturers design and build machines to enable the operators to work safely; the AEM consensus manuals are an additional industry resource to help reinforce safe operating practices,” said Tom Haley, product safety manager for Vermeer Corporation as well as past chair of EREC and current chair of North America’s ISO Forestry Technical Advisory Group. “AEM consensus manuals are an excellent resource for ‘tailgate’ safety programs and for use by equipment dealers and rental operations. AEM encourages their use as part of any training and education program for equipment operators,” said James Vos, AEM safety materials manager.AEM safety manuals, videos, and related safety and training products are industry-consensus documents that provide a convenient and cost-effective way to provide safety information.

The association initiated its safety-tools program 45 years ago to provide job-proven and time-tested suggestions for promoting safety-conscious attitudes and performance. Accident prevention is primary but benefits also include improved worker productivity and less equipment downtime for repairs. Visit the online AEM Store (www.safetymaterials.org) for the full selection. Some materials are offered in downloadable files or in DVD format. AEM members receive discounts on select materials. For more information, contact AEM’s James Vos at (jvos@aem.org, tel: 414-298-4135). About 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, D.C.; Ottawa, Canada; and Beijing, China.