Draft apprenticeship
The draft LEEA Lifting Equipment Technician Apprenticeship is being circulated to all LEEA members in England as part of the consultation process required by the government prior to the final application, which will be made by 7Â August 2019 to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in a wide range of industries, wherever organisations have lifting equipment. For example this could be in marine, construction, manufacturing, distribution, medical, agriculture, mining and quarrying, aeronautical, renewable, entertainment and military environments. This is a globally recognised occupation, in demand wherever lifting equipment is used.
Examples of equipment include, but are not limited to, hoists used for the lifting of lighting rigs at festivals to chain slings on construction sites. Equipment can be in almost any type of industry, including onshore or offshore, in car plants, aircraft manufacturing organisations, shipbuilding, yacht building, food processing, warehousing and general engineering facilities.
They are typically employed in organisations who provide a bespoke service or in-house by the users of the equipment. This can include lifting equipment manufacturers, end users, owners, distributors, hirers and inspectors.
They will often be required to work on site and at clients’ premises and will need to be able to travel to them, so will typically need a driving licence. The broad purpose of the occupation is to repair, maintain, modify, inspect, test, install and assemble lifting equipment to ensure its suitability and safety for a continued period of service. They provide documentation and technical advice to customers and check that equipment is being maintained in accordance with statutory requirements. Additionally, the role may include the removal of equipment from service or decommissioning where it is considered to be unsafe and does not meet regulatory standards.
Lifting Equipment Technicians are self-motivated problem solvers who work with organisations to resolve issues and come up with solutions to their everyday needs. They ensure the safety and suitability of the equipment used for lifting goods or people in order to meet regulatory requirements.. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with site managers, production managers, health & safety managers, workshop supervisors, design engineers, equipment and component suppliers and government agencies, such as the HSE.
They may work independently or within a team and typically report to a senior line manager who can offer support, knowledge, and best practice guidance.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for supporting the organisations in which they are employed or providing a service to. They typically have responsibility for a range of lifting equipment to ensure it has been properly verified as safe for use. The Lifting Equipment Technician can interpret and comply with contract information, such as service contracts, and work with the lifting organisations who hold or own lifting equipment. They would also be responsible for ensuring Health & Safety, Regulatory and Quality requirements are met, and for taking an active role in general workshop quality control.
They are responsible for ensuring the maintenance of their own tools and equipment and the tidiness of their working area.
Typical job titles include Lifting Equipment Inspector, Mechanical Engineer, Lifting Gear Fitter and Lifting Equipment Engineer.
