Keeping Skills Current Remains Critical In Lifting Industry
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) remains an essential part of maintaining competency and safety standards within South Africa’s lifting machinery industry, but industry stakeholders say greater emphasis is needed on fostering a culture of ongoing learning.
According to Lynnette Harris of the LMI Academy, while most lifting machinery inspectors (LMIs) and lifting machinery entities (LMEs) understand the requirement to accumulate CPD points as part of their registration cycle, many still underestimate the broader value that ongoing training brings to both individuals and businesses.
“Some people see CPD as simply collecting points to remain compliant, but the real value lies in staying up to date with legislative changes, understanding how new standards affect day-to-day operations, keeping abreast of industry developments and ensuring that knowledge remains current in an environment that is constantly evolving,” said Harris.
Registered LMIs are required to accumulate CPD points over a five-year cycle and submit these through the Engineering Council of South Africa’s (ECSA) verified portal. While the system is well established, Harris advises professionals not to leave the process until the end of their registration period. “My advice is always to do your CPD every year and not let it snowball. If you leave everything to the final year, it becomes much more difficult to manage,” she said.
The LMI Academy has structured its courses to help accommodate working professionals, including offering Saturday training sessions and blended learning approaches that combine classroom instruction with self-study components. The courses cover a broad range of subjects relevant to lifting operations, including forklifts, overhead cranes, chain blocks, lever hoists, maintenance requirements and the legislative framework governing the sector.
Importantly, Harris notes that many professionals are surprised by the breadth of legislation that impacts their work. “People often focus on a single regulation and assume nothing has changed, but there are many pieces of legislation that overlap and influence the industry. Understanding how these work together is essential.”
Keeping pace with change
The need for continuous learning has become increasingly important as standards evolve. One example is the publication of the revised SANS 500 standard in 2023, which continues to generate discussion and differing interpretations within the industry. “Training provides an opportunity for professionals to understand these changes properly and discuss how they should be applied in practice,” said Harris.
While cost and time pressures can sometimes make training difficult to prioritise, Harris believes the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term inconvenience. Employers often face competing demands, particularly in an environment where productivity and operational efficiency are under constant pressure. Taking staff away from productive work for training can be viewed as a challenge, especially when travel, accommodation and related costs are considered. However, ongoing development ultimately strengthens both individual capability and organisational performance.
“Training allows people to expand their scope, improve their understanding and perform their roles more effectively. The benefits extend beyond compliance,” Harris explained.
CPD also forms part of the broader professional development pathway for LMIs seeking to extend their scope of registration. Certain specialist courses, management training and computer-based competencies form part of the requirements for progression within the profession.
Building a stronger safety culture
Beyond professional advancement, Harris believes training remains one of the most effective tools available to improve workplace safety. “Untrained people are not safe in a working environment. Continuous learning helps people recognise risks, understand changing requirements and ultimately contributes to accident prevention. It is not a nice-to-have but an essential part of maintaining safe and compliant lifting operations.”
She points to industries such as aviation, where lessons learned from incidents are systematically incorporated into training and regulatory frameworks. Similar approaches, she believes, can help strengthen safety outcomes across the lifting sector.
The industry also faces ongoing challenges around compliance and due diligence. Harris says companies should verify the credentials and scope of registration of inspectors and service providers rather than relying solely on registration numbers. “Companies need to ensure that the people they are engaging are appropriately registered and qualified for the work they are performing. Due diligence is an important part of maintaining industry standards.”
Looking ahead, Harris is encouraged by ongoing discussions within the industry around developing more formal qualification pathways for aspiring LMIs. Initiatives being explored through industry bodies such as LEEASA aim to provide candidates with stronger educational foundations before entering the profession while maintaining existing practical experience requirements, she said.
For Harris, the objective is clear: creating a stronger culture of learning that supports competence and professionalism while delivering a safer working environment. “We need to encourage continuous learning. The industry changes, legislation changes and standards change. Keeping knowledge current benefits not only the individual but the industry as a whole.” Having operated since 2004, the LMI Academy continues to provide specialised training aimed at helping lifting professionals remain current with legislative requirements, technical developments and industry best practice.
LMI Academy,
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