Lifting operations remain some of the most high-risk activities across Australia and New Zealand’s industrial sectors – from construction and mining to logistics and infrastructure. These activities, by their very nature, carry serious consequences if not managed properly. The potential for injury, loss of life, property damage, and reputational harm is ever present.
Compliance with safety obligations is not merely a formality. It is both a legal duty and a moral responsibility. When those responsible for lifting operations – be it site supervisors, equipment suppliers, or company directors – fail to meet their obligations, the consequences can be devastating. On the other hand, when lifting operations are managed with care, competence, and commitment, they can be conducted safely, efficiently, and without incident.
In Australia and New Zealand, the legal framework governing workplace safety places a clear and enforceable obligation on businesses and individuals to manage risk. These laws are designed to protect workers and the public by ensuring that lifting equipment is safe, properly maintained, and used by people with the right skills and training. But legislation alone cannot guarantee safety. True compliance – and real-world safety outcomes – are achieved through a culture of responsibility, guided by industry leadership and best practice.
This is where the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) plays a vital role. As the globally respected authority on safe lifting practice, LEEA provides a critical foundation for raising standards in the lifting sector. Its presence in Australia and New Zealand is helping to drive change across the industry, supporting members to meet their obligations while improving safety performance. Central to this support is LEEA’s Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment –commonly known as COPSULE. This comprehensive guide brings together decades of international expertise and distils it into practical advice for those on the ground. Drawing on best practice from around the world, including what is seen as a world’s best – the UK’s LOLER regulations, COPSULE offers more than just technical instructions; it provides an ethical framework for lifting safety. As LEEA, describes, it contains “comprehensive guidance on safe lifting practice,” backed by “authoritative information written by impartial industry experts.”
COPSULE also provides a helpful structure for understanding the core responsibilities involved in lifting operations. These include equipment design and selection, inspection, competency, planning and supervision, documentation, and safe use practices. Taken together, they form the pillars of world class lifting compliance.
Every safe lift begins with the right equipment. That means equipment that is fit for purpose, correctly rated, and supported by clear safety information. Those who design, manufacture, or supply lifting gear must ensure their products are safe and that end users understand how to use them correctly. A failure to communicate critical safety information – such as a lifting beam’s safe configuration or how certain materials might degrade in a corrosive environment – can have fatal consequences.
A tragic case in Western Australia highlights this risk. A worker lost his life when a lifting chain failed during use. At the time, the chains we not supplied with adequate guidance for its use in corrosive conditions and they had weakened over time. The supplier was later fined heavily. This incident stands as a sobering reminder: when you provide lifting equipment, you also share responsibility for its safe use. Safety information must be clear, accessible, and unambiguous. It’s critically important that everyone in the sales cycle is clear about the use for each product and what environment products are to be used in. As this case clearly highlights – ignorance is not an excuse.
Equally essential is the inspection of equipment. All lifting gear is subject to wear and degradation over time, especially in demanding environments. Regular and thorough inspections must be carried out by individuals with the right training and experience. Competency in this context is not just about having a qualification – it’s about being able to identify signs of damage, understand load paths and design limits, and make informed decisions about whether equipment remains safe to use.
This brings us to the wider issue of competence. Lifting is a team activity that involves multiple roles: from operators and riggers to supervisors and engineers. Each must be properly trained, not only in how to perform their tasks, but in understanding the broader risks and how to manage them. LEEA plays a crucial role here. Its training and certification programs are internationally recognised, and they set a high benchmark for lifting competence. Organisations that invest in LEEA-accredited training are not only protecting their workers – they are demonstrating to regulators and clients that safety is a core business value.
Planning and supervision are also essential. Every lift – especially those involving complex or heavy loads – should be subject to careful preparation. This includes identifying risks, defining lifting methods, ensuring all equipment is appropriate and in good condition, and briefing all involved personnel. The supervisor overseeing the lift must be capable of making real-time decisions, adapting to changing conditions, and halting the operation if it becomes unsafe. Poor lift planning remains one of the most frequent causes of serious incidents. Good planning is not just a paperwork exercise – it’s the difference between control and chaos.
Alongside planning comes documentation. Record-keeping is often undervalued until it’s too late. But in the aftermath of an incident, the absence of proper documentation can be damaging.
Equipment inspection logs, training records, maintenance reports, and lift plans form the evidence that safety obligations have been taken seriously. They help identify where things went wrong – and they can also protect businesses from liability when things are done right.
Ultimately, safe use practices tie everything together. This means following correct procedures, using the right equipment, ensuring personnel are positioned safely, and executing the lift as planned. It means applying all the proper steps – design, inspection, training, and planning – in real time. It means never taking shortcuts.
In lifting, small lapses can have irreversible consequences.
Organisations that embrace this full compliance model – supported by LEEA’s guidance and training – position themselves for long-term success. They reduce risk, protect their people, build trust with clients, and maintain a strong safety record.
In a world where reputation matters and scrutiny is growing, this is not just the right thing to do – it’s a competitive advantage.
Conversely, when compliance is seen as a burden or an afterthought, risks multiply exponentially. Planning without supervision is paperwork. Supervision without planning is guesswork.
Both must work together. There is no shortage of examples where companies have faced prosecution, financial penalties, and irreversible reputational harm due to preventable lifting incidents. Yet behind every prosecution is something far worse: someone who didn’t make it home.
The lifting industry has the tools to do better. LEEA’s COPSULE, coupled with robust training, inspection, and safety management systems, offers a complete framework for safe operations. It is not simply about following rules – it is about demonstrating leadership. Because at its core, lifting safety is about people: their lives, their families, and their futures.
Compliance in lifting operations is not a choice. It is a shared obligation. It’s not just about meeting minimum standards – it’s about setting high ones. In doing so, we not only meet the law, we honour the trust placed in us every time a load leaves the ground.