A grand GLAD 2023 celebrates the world of lifting
Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) took place on 13th of July 2023, filling the social media channels with #GLAD2023 hashtag accompanied messages and stories promoting the Lifting industry globally. End users, lifting inspectors, individuals and companies, trainees, apprentices and students, trade associations and organisations as well as media publications all took part. LEEA held its own packed programme of activities to celebrate the day.
LEEA’s GLAD programme commenced with a free to all Digital Roundtable discussing the digital future of the Lifting Industry including how the kinds of apps originally developed for general consumers will make work in industry more efficient. Other hot topics discussed included AI and ChatGPT, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and sustainable technologies, as well as lifting specific innovations.
Following this, LEEA proudly announced the launch of its latest e-learning course, the Supporting Structures (SUP) Diploma, which joins its suite of online training courses.
Up next was a free to all guidance video on BS 7121 Code of Practice for the safe use of lifting equipment of standards delivered by Ben Dobbs, Head of Global Standards and Legislation at LEEA, who represents LEEA on various standards committees throughout the world – one being for BSI MHE/3/11 on crane safety and testing (BSI is the UK's National Standards Body (NSB). Updating a presentation he delivered a few years ago, Ben gave an overview of the current standards that are important for current work and future projects. He showed how the BS7121 series is a good standard for safe use of cranes. But what of other equipment? LEEA’s COPSULE (Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment) 9th addition, available as a free download at leeaint.com, has 27 sections covering the safe use, maintenance and inspection of a range of lifting equipment. It is a globally harmonised code of practice that sticks to LEEA recommended industrial best practice, without referring to UK standards. It is also referenced as a source of further information in the BS7121 series and is complementary to its philosophy.
At midday, the LEEA Technical Forum took place, attended in person by LEEA members, at the Builders Merchants Federation HQ in Coventry. Don't worry if you were not unable to attend in person; LEEA will be sharing the presentation recording.
In a presentation after lunch, Karen Slade, of Lift & Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) Assessments talked through the Lifting Equipment Technician Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, available to students embarking on the recently launched Level 3 Lifting Equipment Technician Apprenticeship that is available in England.
An Accredited Training Scheme Webinar for LEEA Members followed and the day’s schedule was rounded off with a presentation by LEEA’s chosen charity for the year, The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, and the launch of the LEEA Connect App 2.0, which are detailed in their own stories on this Bulletin.
Videos of presentations held during the day can be watched on LEEA’s website HERE.
Outside of LEEA’s GLAD schedule, the Association was pleased to see the global industry embrace the day and fill the social media channels with a multitude of #GLAD2023 postings. It was not just the industry, members of parliament who visited LEEA’s Parliamentary Event held on 12th July at the House of Commons, Westminster, (reported in this Bulletin) contributed their messages of support for the day.
James Morris MP, who, we thank for hosting the event at the House of Commons, tweeted: ‘Thank you to everyone who came along to our reception in Parliament earlier to mark #GLAD2023, which takes place tomorrow. Great to raise awareness of safe practices in the lifting and rigging industries with @LEEA_INT.’
Another visitor to the event, Kim Leadbeater MP, tweeted: ‘On #GlobalLiftingAwarenessDay I’m pleased to support this valuable industry & thank the many businesses who ensure #SafeLifting, inc. Calder Lifting based in #Heckmondwike. We all rely on lifting companies even if we don’t realise it so it's important to value them #GLAD2023’.
Being a global celebration, of course, saw GLAD events take place around the world. One good example was in Tanzania, where a representation from various stakeholders in the Lifting Industry met to mark the day and discuss the present and future challenges to the industry in Tanzania. Sponsored by Verisure Support Services, a productive discussion forum was followed by a drinks reception watching the Sun set over the Indian Ocean.
“Ultimately, we’re trying to change behaviour,” Ross Moloney, CEO of LEEA said of the purpose of GLAD. “We would like to say a big thank you to everyone, wherever they were, who created and consumed #GLAD2023 content.”
