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Through the Alliance, OSHA and AEM will work together to provide rough terrain forklift or telehandler owners and operators with information, guidance, and access to training resources in multiple languages that will help them protect construction employees' health and safety. The Alliance will focus on hazards related to operating telehandlers in the workplace, such as ground conditions, machine mobility and overloading, as well as hoisting employees improperly. The Alliance's goals include:

Training and Education:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for telehandler operators and "workers on foot," and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

Outreach and communication:

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AEM's conferences, seminars, or other events such as ConExpo-ConAgg and World of Asphalt.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AEM's best practices or effective approaches, including the use of pictorials and publicize results through outreach by AEM and through OSHA- or AEM-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects, including those associated with operating telehandlers, that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace hazards, including those associated with operating telehandlers, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

Related Documents

Alliance Agreements

• Agreement signed October 1, 2007.

Alliance Annual Reports

• Alliance Annual Report 2007-2008, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.

Alliance News Release

• OSHA Announces New Alliance with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. OSHA News Release (2007, October 3).

Activities and Events

• May 1-7, 2011: 2011 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2011 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2011 was "Celebrating a Century of Safety."
• May 2-8, 2010: 2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
• April 27, 2010: 2010 Annual On-site Consultation Training Conference, San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, San Diego, California. Darin Hinnergardt, Master Training Instructor, Altec Industries, Inc; Daniel J. Moss, Technical Consultant, Standards and Safety Services, Association of Equipment Manufacturers; and Stephen Smith, President Elect, Scaffolding Industry Association, presented a panel discussion on "Aerial Work Platforms: Safety Issues and Emerging Technologies" to 40 attendees.
• April 26-28, 2010: Association of Equipment Manufacturers' 2010 Product Safety and Compliance Seminar Weston O'Hare Hotel, Rosemont, Illinois
  • April 28, 2010: Michael Buchet, then-Acting Director, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, gave the "closing keynote" address titled "OSHA Construction Update" where he discussed some national emphasis programs and gave a regulatory update.
• May 3-9, 2009: 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home."
• May 4-10, 2008: 2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
• March 11-15, 2008: CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • March 13, 2008: Michael Buchet, then-Acting Director, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation "OSHA's Trenching Initiative and Construction Update" to trench shoring and shielding industry executives during AEM's Trench Shoring and Shielding Association Breakfast Meeting.
  • March 14, 2008: Michael Buchet, then-Acting Director, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation "OSHA's Top Ten Construction Hazards" to construction industry representatives.

Products and Resources

• Alliance Program Participant Background

Alliance Program Participant Developed Products

• Personnel Work Platforms: Preventing Rough-Terrain Forklift Accidents [PDF^* - 507 KB]. Through the OSHA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Alliance, AEM developed a best practices bulletin providing general safety guidelines on the operation of rough-terrain forklifts equipped with a personnel work platform. (2011, September)
• Designated/Certified Operators Only Decal [PDF^* - 306 KB]. Through the OSHA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Alliance, AEM developed a decal to affix to cranes to remind operators that only owner designated and properly certified individuals should be allowed to operate the equipment. (2011, June)
• Employer-Certified Operators Only Decal [PDF^* - 266 KB]. Through the OSHA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Alliance, AEM developed a decal to affix to rough terrain forklifts to remind operators that only properly qualified individuals should be allowed to operate the equipment. (2010, July)
• "To See" Best Practices Bulletin [English PDF^* - 108 KB, Portuguese PDF^* - 108 KB]. Through the OSHA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Alliance, AEM developed a best practices bulletin addressing critical issues to be aware of when operating rough terrain forklifts. (2009, December)
• Preventing Rough Terrain Forklift Accidents Best Practices Bulletin [English PDF^* - 136 KB, Portuguese PDF^* - 462 KB, Spanish PDF^* - 462 KB]. Through the OSHA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Alliance, AEM developed a best practices bulletin providing users of rough terrain forklifts with information to prevent injury or death when operating rough terrain forklifts and addressing how to prevent overturn and run-over accidents. (2008, March; Portuguese translation 2010, May; Spanish translation 2011, May)

OSHA eTools

• Powered Industrial Trucks⁺ (Forklift)

Additional Resources

• "Statement of Best Practices of General Training and Familiarization for Aerial Work Platform Equipment" [PDF - 2 MB]. An educational document providing general guidance and best practices for training and safe use of Aerial Work Platform equipment.
• Alliance Program Construction Roundtable. Through the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable and its Design for Safety and Fall Protection Workgroups, a number of products and resources have been developed for the construction industry.
• Preventing Fatal Falls in Construction. Provides links to OSHA tools and resources to help prevent construction-related falls.
• AEM/OSHA Alliance
• AEM Best Practices
• Aerial Work Platform Training Best Practices. [PDF - 2 MB]
• Hazards Associated with Operating Skid-Steer Loaders with Bypassed and/or Improperly Maintained Safety Devices. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin. Also available as a [PDF - 109 KB]

⁺Alliance Implementation Team members participated in the development of this resource.

Areas of Emphasis

• Construction

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs at 202-693-2200 for assistance accessing PDF materials.

^*These files are provided for downloading.