Opinion Pieces

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is proud to be involved in GLOBAL LIFTING AWARENESS DAY on 9 July 2020. LEEA invites its members to take to social media and spread the word about raising standards throughout the global lifting industry and to end user markets, using the #GLAD2020 hashtag. “GLAD on 9 July will […]

Rigging gear is particularly vulnerable in the event of shock loading. To begin to understand shock loading, we need to accept the definitions of ‘shock’ (a sudden or surprising event or occurrence) and ‘loading’ (the application of a load or force). Put the two together and we’ve got a scenario where a crane, hoist and […]

Australian Defence Force veterans are ideal candidates for lifting industry employers, says Justin Boehm, Member Engagement Manager for Australia at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). It was great to see LEEA CEO Ross Moloney pay members in Australia and New Zealand another visit during October. One of topics of discussion was the 75:75 military […]

Government investment in the defence sector is creating a substantial domestic end-user market that will increasingly need to call on the support of Australia’s lifting industry. To ensure that the high levels of quality and safety demanded in defence are met, it is crucial that procurement teams in the sector look to LEEA members, says […]

In the second part of a mini series about building a team, Ashley Thacker presents five important elements of a successful, long-term people development program. My last column in Lift & Hoist Australasia (LHA) magazine focussed on recruitment techniques and closed with references to the importance of nurturing talent and helping people grow in line […]

I have a lot of conversations with fellow business owners and managers here in Sydney and wider Australia. It’s fascinating to compare notes with peers who are experiencing the same challenges and notable that similar issues impact us all. Near the top of the list, especially for those of us plying our trade in a […]

Justin Boehm, member engagement manager for Australia at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), examines key safety issues associated with crane lifting in Australia, and key precautions to take to avoid them. Safety is paramount in any lifting operation. Whether you are an operator or a handler, tasks are often very dangerous, and the industry […]

As advancements in the development of lifting chains run ahead of standardisation, it is important to take great care when it comes to sourcing these products, says Justin Boehm, Member Engagement Manager for Australia at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). Lifting chains tend to be more commonly used for lifting goods in Australia than […]

Only when everybody takes responsibility for safety can we reduce accidents associated with lifting and rigging equipment. Pre-use inspection is a good place to start. A single item of rigging gear gets passed through many hands. It is manufactured, shipped, stored, distributed, probably stored again, and then used to connect a hook to a load. […]

Three months into the new role of Member Engagement Manager for the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) in Australia and New Zealand, Justin Boehm gives his initial view of the challenges and opportunities facing members and their customers. With little previous exposure to the lifting industry prior to joining LEEA, after a whirlwind first three […]