PHOENIX — The third annual Safe Access, Fall Protection & Training Conference (SAF-T) transmitted its message of aerial work platform safety and training via online webinar for the first time last month. The conference effectively reached out to organizations beyond the traditional rental and construction industries.

The informative sessions covered raising the bar on training, the do's and don'ts of aerial work platform maintenance, fall arrest/restraint system care and inspection, ANSI compliance for managers and a host of other topics. Speakers included Ken Colonna, director of safety and environmental for RSC Equipment Rental; Jeff Stachowiak, national safety director for Sunbelt Rentals; Rob Vetter, director of training for IVES Training Group; Bob Bartley, director of field service for Terex Aerial Work Platforms; Dave Baxter, director of business development for JLG Industries; Brad Boehler, vice president of engineering for Skyjack; Tony Groat, executive vice president, AWPT Inc., and more.

The event is presented annually by Lift & Access Magazine published by Maximum Capacity Media. L&A publisher Guy Ramsey was happy to note the extended reach of the conference. “What I was most excited about was not only the quality of the attendees but the variety,” Ramsey said. “The safety managers or directors from companies like DuBois Chemicals, Cianbro, Amgen, Entegris, Arcelor Mittal, BAE Systems and Kimberly Clark were in attendance. Training organizations, operators, unions, rental yards, crane and rigging companies that use AWPs, and industrial forklift distributors also attended, to name a few. I was very pleased to see that we had several educational institutes in the audience, engineering schools like Penn State, Winona State University and Michigan Tech. These are grassroots opportunities that will really go a long way in raising awareness.”

Tim Whiteman, managing director of the International Powered Access Federation, noted that the online format “allows economic participation without the need to get on a plane.”

A replay of the three-hour webinar will be available for 90 days, and can be accessed at www.saf-tconference.com for $40 per registration.