Global Lifting Awareness Day is July 13

UNITED KINGDOM — Global Lifting Awareness Day, #GLAD2023, driven by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), will bring together all industry stakeholders, including manufacturers and suppliers and end users to promote safe and high-quality load lifting.

Now in its fourth year, #GLAD2023, which will be held on July 13, harnesses the power of social media to promote videos, articles and in-person activity, while pointing people to www.globalliftingawarenessday.com, where information about apprenticeships, military recruitment, diversity, sustainability and technology has been posted since the concept’s 2020 launch, indicates a release.

LEEA has invited stakeholders to show support by participating on social media and holding events that serve as hubs. Anybody with an interest in lifting and working at heights can contribute.

Also aligning for #GLAD2023 are a collection of authorities and trade bodies, in addition to industry press, equipment manufacturers and influencers. All are actively encouraging memberships, readerships, peers, etc. to support the cause, indicates a release, adding if you are an engineer, crane operator, rigger, signalperson, trainer, or apprentice, social media is the place to start.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to change behaviour, so pivoting towards owners, inspectors, examiners, and end users is key to achieving that,” said Ross Moloney, CEO at LEEA, in a statement.

“Most of us in the industry know where to look for guidance, and where to go for advice, but users that have only a passing understanding of lifting — they might only rent, or buy, or use it occasionally — likely need more support to understand the risks and how to mitigate them better. This is a demographic continuously prone to accidents if we don’t position our safety messages where they’re needed most.”