AEM and CGA Partner to Promote 811 Safety Stickers on New Equipment

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 10, 2026, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) jointly released a Statement of Common Principles, confirming their mutual commitment to advancing safe digging awareness, supporting unified industry guidelines, and promoting best practices of contacting 811 before working near underground infrastructure. This collaboration aims to reduce damage to underground utilities such as pipelines from the equipment manufacturing stage.

As the first concrete actions under the Statement of Common Principles, AEM and CGA recommend that off-road equipment manufacturers affix 811 reminder stickers to equipment that could inadvertently dig into underground utilities. Such accidental contact can cause power outages, disruption of utility services, or even serious injury or death to operators or bystanders. The sticker serves to remind operators to call 811 before beginning work to have underground utility lines marked. Under this recommendation, by August 2027, all applicable new equipment sold in the U.S. market may carry this reminder.

Megan Tanel, President and CEO of AEM, stated that the equipment manufactured by member companies serves the construction, food, and energy supply sectors, and safety is at the core of this work. She believes that adding the 811 sticker is a simple and intuitive way for manufacturers to remind operators to contact 811 before digging or working near underground infrastructure, and expressed support for collaborating with CGA to promote this safety message.

This best practice has been endorsed by the boards of both organizations and is positioned as making equipment operators the last line of defense in preventing damage to underground utilities. Data shows that approximately 213,985 underground infrastructure damage events were reported in the United States in 2025 alone. This collaboration directly supports CGA's goals of reducing underground infrastructure damage, protecting worker and community safety, and maintaining critical utility connections.

Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, President and CEO of CGA, stated that preventing underground infrastructure damage is a shared responsibility, and this best practice will remind operators closest to the excavation site to contact 811 before starting work. She noted that when off-road equipment manufacturers join this initiative, they can reach operators before the shovel hits the ground, thereby reducing the leading cause of damage each year—failure to contact 811 before digging.

The recommendation applies to both new and in-service equipment. For new machines, participating manufacturers will affix the sticker during the production process; for equipment already at job sites, equipment owners can apply for a free license from CGA to reproduce the official 811 sticker and add it to their existing fleets. Project details, artwork designs, and licensing information have been published on the CGA website.

The organizers emphasized that safe digging is not just a construction industry issue. Farmers and other agricultural operators may also encounter underground pipelines when digging in fields, farmyards, and rural right-of-way areas, so the scope of this reminder is not limited to traditional job sites. The initiative is aimed at all industries that may involve digging, pulling, or impacting underground infrastructure.

Kevin Thomas, Executive Vice President of the Industrial Equipment Division at Alamo Group Inc. and Exhibition Chair for the 2027 Utility Expo, stated that as manufacturers, there is a responsibility not only to provide equipment but also to remind every operator to contact 811 when utilities are not clearly marked on the ground. He mentioned that attendees will see this sticker affixed to equipment at booths at the 2027 Utility Expo, demonstrating the industry's commitment to damage prevention.

The Statement of Common Principles reflects the intent of AEM and CGA to deepen their collaboration beyond a single initiative, as both organizations will advance consistent safety guidance, expand industry education, and promote practical tools that help prevent underground infrastructure damage. The 811 reminder sticker is an early example of this collaboration translating into concrete action for manufacturers, equipment owners, and operators, serving industries including construction, food, and energy supply.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is an international trade organization headquartered in North America, representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,100 companies and over 200 product lines in the global agriculture and construction-related sectors. The U.S. equipment manufacturing industry supports more than 2.2 million jobs and contributes $415 billion to the economy annually.

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), established in 2000, is a member-driven association of nearly 4,000 damage prevention professionals, covering all aspects of the underground utility industry. The organization is dedicated to saving lives and preventing damage to North America's underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices, while serving as the industry's leading source of damage prevention data and information.