AEM’s Technical and Safety Services staff met with top officials of the Directorate of Construction (DOC) of the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) on August 7 to discuss opportunities to improve the health and safety of those working with and around heavy equipment in the agricultural, construction, forestry, and utility  sectors.

Jim Maddux, DOC director, and Michael Buchet, senior occupational health & safety specialist, Construction Standards & Guidance Office, DOC, met for several hours in Chicago with AEM staff. The meeting was more comprehensive than any previous AEM-OSHA meeting.

Each organization’s structure, operations, and priorities were reviewed along with their experience and strengths.

Opportunities and means for AEM and its members to jointly communicate to equipment owners’ and users’ key information and practices to improve safety and health were discussed and will continue to be pursued.