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Crane Manufacturers Association of America

OSHA Announces Alliance with CMAA, HMI and MMA

By F. Hal Vandiver
Executive Vice President – Business Development

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced an alliance with the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI) and the Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA). The purpose of this alliance is to provide crane, hoist and monorail systems owners and operators with information, guidance, and access to education and training resources that will advance their workplace safety and health. OSHA established an Alliance Program in March 2002 to enable organizations committed to safety and health to work with OSHA to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.

Recognizing the value collaborative relationships in fostering a safer and more healthful American workplace, CMAA, HMI and MMA have been working with OSHA for the past two years seeking ways that the organizations could work together. The OSHA alliance concept was advanced for consideration at the Annual Membership Meeting of each organization in 2003. Upon review and approval by the Members of CMAA, HMI and MMA alliance representatives were appointed to develop the alliance agreement. OSHA Alliance representatives were Greg Miskowiec – Lift-Tech International (CMAA), John Perkins – Ingersoll-Rand Company (HMI), John Paxton – Demag Cranes & Components Corporation (MMA) and Hal Vandiver Managing Executive (CMAA, HMI, MMA). The agreement was completed in February of this year. In August, the Solicitor’s Office of OSHA announced that the alliance agreement had been accepted.

In this alliance OSHA and CMAA, HMI, and MMA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

  • 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 CMAA, HMI, and MMA Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, CMAA, HMI, and MMA conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the NA 2006 (The 2006 Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference) and ProMat 2007.
  • Share information with industry safety and health professionals regarding OSHA, CMAA, HMI, and MMA best practices and/or effective approaches in the safe use of crane, hoist and monorail equipment through outreach and through developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  • Promote and encourage CMAA, HMI, and MMA members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  • Work on specific issues and projects on the safe use of crane hoist and monorail equipment that are addressed and developed through the alliance.


OSHA and CMAA, HMI, and MMA will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

  • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
  • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety issues related to the use of crane, hoist and monorail equipment to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

To commemorate this alliance, there will be an official Signing Ceremony with the Acting Assistant Secretary of OSHA officiating. Jeff Breitrick – Morris Material Handling (CMAA), Chris Hess – Harrington Hoist (HMI), Joe Gibbs – ACCO Chain & Lifting (MMA), all Presidents of their respective organizations, will be the co-signatories of the alliance agreement.

Following this, an implementation team made up of representatives of each organization 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. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA Consultation Projects’ participation on the team. This alliance agreement will remain in effect for two years.

CMAA, HMI and MMA are affiliated trade associations of Material Handling Industry of America. For more information on the activities of these organizations contact Hal Vandiver at 800-345-1815/704-676-1190 or via email at .

To learn more about the OSHA Alliance Program, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/.