As equipment technology evolves and industry standards continue to advance, ensuring that AEM’s industry safety materials remain accurate, relevant, and consistent has become increasingly important. To meet that need, the recently formed AEM Safety Manual Oversight Committee (SMOC) is bringing together industry experts to guide the future of equipment safety publications and manual development.
The committee serves as an advisory body to AEM’s Safety and Product Leadership Council, helping to prioritize manual updates, identify emerging industry trends, and provide strategic guidance on the development of new and existing safety content.
“The AEM Safety Manual Oversight Committee plays a key role in ensuring manufacturers have access to clear, consistent, and up-to-date safety guidance that supports both operators and the industry as a whole,” said Alamo Company’s Sam Gallegos, who serves as Committee Chair.
Advancing Consistency Across Industry Safety Communications
One of the committee’s primary responsibilities is evaluating how industry language and safety messaging should evolve alongside new technologies and best practices. Members review broad industry updates and provide recommendations on terminology and written guidance used throughout AEM safety materials.
The committee also maintains oversight of AEM’s catalog of safety manuals, helping identify which titles should be prioritized for updates while ensuring projects remain on schedule. According to the committee charter, SMOC plays an important role in helping ensure safety information remains aligned across equipment categories and reflects current industry expectations.
Supporting Critical Safety Resources
The committee’s priorities include providing direction on one call page updates, offering guidance on upcoming manual revisions, and establishing a leadership structure and meeting cadence to support continual progress.
In addition to reviewing equipment-specific manuals, the committee helps prioritize broader industry-wide safety content, including general safety information and resources that apply across multiple equipment categories. The group also supports efforts to maintain consistency in safety warning language throughout AEM publications.
Bringing Together Industry Expertise
The committee is designed to reflect the diverse expertise found across the equipment manufacturing industry. Membership includes approximately 15 to 20 professionals representing disciplines such as engineering, product management, and technical writing. Representation spans multiple equipment sectors, including roadbuilding, forestry, earthmoving, and other industries served by AEM manuals.
This cross-industry perspective helps ensure safety materials address the needs of a broad range of manufacturers while maintaining a consistent approach to hazard communication and operator guidance.
The committee held its first meeting on January 13, 2026, and plans to meet quarterly. The group continues to seek participation from professionals with experience in technical writing, publications, safety communications, and evolving equipment standards.
For more information about AEM's Safety Materials Program, or to inquire about joining the Safety Manual Oversight Committee, contact AEM’s Jaime Vos at jvos@aem.org.
