Training deficit threatens safety and retention in the lifting sector, LEEA survey finds

At least two-thirds of new recruits enter the lifting industry without adequate training, and nearly half of operators provide no ongoing skills development. These were some of the key findings from the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) annual State of the Lifting Industry survey.

At least 71% of respondents acknowledged they could be doing more, said Ross Maloney, LEEA CEO. The results of the survey, commissioned by LEEA in May this year, were made public on Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD), an annual event dedicated to raising standards and awareness across the lifting industry. Celebrated this year on June 12 with the theme “Lifting Careers, Building Futures”, GLAD was this year dedicated to tackling the growing skills shortages across the lifting industry and promoting practical tools to attract new talent.

“The survey provided a rich source of data to help inform our work to keep lifting operators safe,” said Maloney. “It has provided valuable insights into skill shortages, retention challenges and training practices specifically affecting lifting operators.” Highlighting the extent of the skills challenge, Maloney described the findings as a “call to arms for the sector” to ensure lifting operators have the training and competence required to stay safe in increasingly demanding environments.

Ageing Workforce

One of the most pressing challenges facing the lifting sector is its ageing workforce. LEEA set out to assess how well companies are preparing for this demographic shift. Only 16% of respondents said their organisations were strongly preparing for the retirement of experienced staff, while a further 34% indicated that some steps were being taken. “An older workforce brings valuable experience - they’ve been there, seen it and done it,” said Maloney. “The key question is: how do we transfer that knowledge and management competence to the next generation?” He said this generational divide puts training firmly in the spotlight.

“What we’ve found is that older workers continue to value in-person, classroom-based training, while younger employees may prefer more flexible, digital learning methods,” said Maloney. “The challenge now is ensuring that everyone - regardless of age - has the skills, competence and experience needed to perform effectively in what is often a demanding and high-risk environment.” He added that the lifting industry was at a crossroads. “We are seeing an ageing workforce, but as experienced professionals retire, fewer young people are entering the trade.”

Retaining Staff

According to Maloney, while the safety benefits of training are widely recognised, its role in staff retention is just as critical. “The industry is facing an urgent recruitment challenge,” he said. “A shortage of skilled labour is placing growing strain on operations, productivity and safety standards. At the same time, rising demands for technical compliance and innovation are accelerating the need for workforce development. Without decisive action, these pressures could jeopardise business continuity and limit long-term growth across the sector.”

“Training must be recognised not only as a safety imperative but as a retention strategy,” said Maloney. “When companies invest in their people, staff feel valued - and that greatly improves loyalty and long-term retention. While there’s ongoing debate about whether investment fosters flexibility, our research clearly shows that trained employees are more likely to remain with their employers than those who receive little or no training.” The survey found that 42% of respondents consistently had difficulty recruiting people with the right knowledge, skills, or behaviours for lifting operation roles. “The majority of respondents reported recruitment challenges at least some of the time,” said Maloney.

In addition, the study found that 58% had difficulties retaining lifting operators, with 36% citing difficult working conditions and 21% identifying inadequate training as the leading cause. Maloney noted that the technical skill set required of a lifting operator was already extensive— made even more demanding by the volume of legal and regulatory knowledge needed to operate safely and compliantly. “Understanding the relevant laws and regulations is essential—not only to ensure legal compliance, but to align with industry standards and best practices,” he said.

The survey found that for 67% of companies the most common skill lacking is knowledge of relevant laws and regulations, while 51% indicated one of the biggest skills gaps is still a lack of safety/ compliance behaviour and attitude. At the same time training is still seen as the cheapest and most effective safety intervention.

Emphasising the importance of technical compliance as a priority area, he said LEEA intended to focus on this moving forward. “If the challenge is that your staff are unaware of updates to legislation or regulation, then the solution must be consistent, ongoing communication,” he explained. “That doesn’t mean overwhelming staff with dense reports. It means delivering bite-sized learning that is easy to absorb, keeps people compliant and motivates them to stay.”

Maloney added that while continuous professional development (CPD) was often seen as a heavy lift, the goal should be to embed learning into the rhythm of business in ways that are manageable and meaningful.

Changing skills requirements

Maloney highlighted the critical need for companies to invest in training and skills development as they look to the future. “This builds on a key finding from our survey: 90% of respondents agree that skills requirements are evolving rapidly,” he said. “While our industry is as old as time, the way we work is changing fundamentally. Notably, AI is emerging as an essential skill for the workforce of tomorrow.

Traditionally, problem-solving has been at the heart of our industry, but it is now equally important to develop digital competencies—a fundamental shift that reflects the evolving landscape. Of course, knowledge of legislation and regulation remains paramount, but adapting to these new demands is equally crucial.” He said AI and digitalisation were no longer distant prospects. “They’re here now, reshaping our industry today.”

In Africa, the need for new skills was even more pronounced than in other regions, with nearly all respondents saying that new skills and knowledge were needed within the next year. The survey also examined training practices for lifting operators and found that only 50% of respondents said their companies provided additional compliance or safety training at least once a year, beyond initial induction. The most commonly cited barriers to ongoing training were lack of time, followed closely by cost.

Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA),

mail@leeaint.com,

www.leeaint.com