American Supply Association (ASA)

(signed September 16, 2008 ; concluded July 23, 2015)

Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, the organizations will work together to provide the associations members and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety. In particular, the agreement will focus on addressing exposure to hazards associated with material handling and forklift operations and hazard communication issues. The Alliance's goals include:

Outreach and communication

  • 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 ASA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or ASA's conferences and local meetings, such as ASA's Annual Convention, Regional Conferences, and Peer Networking Council Meetings.
  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ASA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ASA and through OSHA- or ASA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, webinars, publications and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  • Promote and encourage ASA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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 to provide input on safety and health issues or to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

Products and Resources

Alliance Program Participant Developed Products
  • Arc Flash Electrical Safety (PDF*). This Toolbox talk helps employees protect themselves from arc flash by identifying critical facts regarding arc flash electrical safety procedures.
  • Attitudes and Behaviors that Contribute to Accidents (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and others to identify the attitudes and behaviors in the workplace that cause accidents in the workplace.
  • Effective Workplace Housekeeping (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and workers to identify good housekeeping basics needed to provide a safe and clean workplace.
  • Fire Prevention (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and workers identify the three elements required to have a fire occur and steps to control these elements.
  • Guidelines for Dealing with Summer Heat (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps inform employers and workers of precautions to take when the heat index is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Hand Safety (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk provides information about avoiding hand injury by keeping hands out of the "danger zone" while performing a work task.
  • Hazard Communication (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk provides workers with information about the chemicals they are working with or around, what hazards those chemicals pose and how they can protect themselves from those hazards.
  • Lighting in the Workplace (PDF*). This Toolbox talk helps employers and employees ensure proper lighting in the workplace.
  • Making Safety a Priority (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and others to inform their employees how to make safety a priority in their everyday experience by obeying safety rules.
  • Portable Fire Extinguisher Types and Use. This Toolbox Talk helps employers meet their responsibility to educate employees on the types, labeling, and use of portable fire extinguishers.
  • Portable Fire Extinguisher Use (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers to familiarize workers with the proper practices of using a fire extinguisher and the hazards associated with fighting small or developing fires.
  • Powered Industrial Truck Safety (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk provides employers and workers with safety rules they should follow to stay safe on the job when operating powered industrial trucks.
  • Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and workers identify the hazards which result in slips, trips and fall injuries along with key steps to reduce the risks.
  • Safe Cell Phone Best Practices (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk helps employers and workers to identify best practices for using cell phones and other hand held devices safely.
  • Safe Material Handling (PDF*). This Toolbox Talk provides information about lifting and safe handling of materials to avoid injuries when engaged in these activities.
  • Using the Toolbox Templates (PDF*). This document is designed to help employers effectively use the ASA - developed toolbox talks in the workplace.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
OSHA eTools
Other Resources
  • Workplace Violence and OSHA Law. Through the OSHA and American Supply Association (ASA) Alliance, ASA and Mr. Michael Taylor, Jackson/Lewis sponsored this webinar on workplace violence. It covers what employers should do if a fight breaks out between two co-workers and what is required under the law.
  • Global Harmonization System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and the Manufacturer. Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, ASA and MSDSpro, LLC sponsored this webinar that explains the GHS System and how to comply. The webinar addresses those employers primarily in manufacturing.
  • Global Harmonization System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) - Checklist for Compliance. Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, ASA and MSDSpro, LLC sponsored this webinar that explains the GHS System and how to comply. The webinar addresses those primarily working in the warehouse.
  • Operator Up Lift Trucks and Aerial Work Platforms - Best Practices. Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, ASA and Associated Integrated Supply Chain Solutions sponsored this webinar that explained the best practices for maintenance workers using aerial work platforms such as scissor lifts and boom lifts and those who use operator up lift trucks such as order pickers and swing reaches. The webinar was geared towards individuals who are responsible for creating safety procedures and implementing OSHA requirements, supervisors, workers, and anyone else that has or will be using any of this equipment.
  • Industrial Steel Storage Racks - Minimizing Your Risk Over the Life Cycle. Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, ASA and the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) sponsored this webinar that explained the current standards and codes, reviewed roles and responsibilities of parties involved, and identified the components of a safe and effective rack storage system. The webinar was geared towards individuals responsible for creating safety procedures and implementing OSHA requirements.