AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE ASSOCIATION OF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and AEM hereby form an Alliance 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 particularly focus on hazards related to operating telehandlers in the workplace, such as ground conditions, machine mobility and overloading, as well as hoisting employees improperly. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and AEM recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and AEM will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• 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.

OSHA and AEM will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the AEM's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   
• 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.

OSHA and AEM will work together to achieve the following goals related to 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.

OSHA's Alliances provide the participating parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing any of that party's products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Construction and Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories.