Material handling and forklift operations hazards to be addressed

Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. and ASA President Jeff New sign the Alliance.


ASA and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently formed a new Alliance to offer guidance, information and training resources to protect employees from hazards related to material handling and forklift operations, as well as hazard communication issues. 

“The American SupplyAssociation is very pleased to enter into this important Alliance with OSHA,” said ASA President Jeff New.  “The safety and ongoing education of over 75,000 employees in our channel of distribution is of utmost importance to us as an association representing this industry.” He continued, “ASA looks forward to partnering with OSHA to reduce workplace hazards and to create training programs that empower our members to be proactive in exceeding OSHA’s safety and health standards.”

The Alliance will communicate safety and health information through its representatives speaking and exhibiting at conventions, conferences, workshops, and seminars. Additionally, the Alliance will collaborate on creating ASA and OSHA Alliance Web sites and developing print and electronic assistance tools. Furthermore, the Alliance will develop case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health.



(clockwise from top L) Pat O'Connor, Mike Adelizzi, Jeff New and Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. at the signing ceremony for the ASA and OSHA Alliance.

“Our new Alliance with ASA will serve as a catalyst for providing important safety and health information to better protect employees from worksite hazards,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. “OSHA has more than 500 alliances nationwide committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace. We are pleased to join forces with ASA and look forward to developing effective approaches to educate its members and other employees working in the supply industry.”

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to promote the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. 

For more information on this and all of ASA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry, visit the Advocacy section of www.asa.net.  For more information on OSHA, please visitwww.osha.gov.