Though Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards establish standard safety levels for off-highway vehicles, they do not dictate how to meet these goals. Thus, you have plenty of room to be creative when designing applications for off-highway applications, such as escape hatches.

Off-road environments can encounter dangerous scenarios where existing escape hatches may become inaccessible or inoperable. When designing for operator safety, you can reduce installation costs by using quick-release latches, which allow the primary cab door to double as a point of emergency egress. Southco’s D4 DZUS Quick-Release Quarter-Turn fasteners, for instance, keep the cab door securely latched during normal operation and provide a means to escape in emergency situations.

D4s are constructed of high-strength steel protected by a corrosion-resistant finish. The secure compression latch features an over-center latching design that resists accidental opening caused by vibration during vehicle use. With a high cycle life, D4s will operate a long time and are easy to use. Most importantly, quick release latches help you meet industry-mandated safety standards.

Using the existing cab door as an emergency exit yields advantages for off-highway equipment, including:

• Reduced design complexity and component parts which reduce manufacturing time, hardware and labor costs associated with installation
• Improved structural integrity by eliminating the need to cut out a separate door panel for an escape hatch
• Simpler operation and easily identifiable hardware provides a safer and more ergonomic interior cab space

The combined durability and function that quick-release latching offers lets manufacturers explore alternative options for meeting existing safety standards for emergency egress while reducing design complexity and cost.

Southco
www.Southco.com