Dynamic Load Monitoring (UK) (DLM), of Southampton, has revealed its plans for a “Bigger and better,” Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) on July 18 — as this year’s campaign transcends the industry.
DLM is a specialist in the design, manufacture, repair, and calibration of load cells, load monitoring, and cable working equipment for the offshore, renewable energy, marine, subsea, and lifting and rigging industries. It is a member of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) — the driving force behind #GLAD2024, its social media signpost.
A multi-dimensional campaign has been running since the turn of the year, with LEEA members, manufacturers, and suppliers leading those sharing material that promotes safe and high-quality load lifting across the world. Social media posts, videos, articles, and in-person activity are bound together by the hashtag, and DLM is among the concept’s prominent backers.
“We have supported the concept since its [2020] launch; it is a campaign we’re intrinsically linked with. Every year, we have seen it get bigger and better, and more people are taking notice of lifting than ever before. It’s a snowball effect. We need initiatives like GLAD to shine a spotlight on our industry, but it’s not about basking in the limelight; it’s about raising the profile of an essential, somewhat misperceived sector, incrementally year-on-year. Lifting is essential to almost everything we construct as a human race,” said Martin Halford, MD, DLM.
“This year’s campaign is doing an excellent job of targeting a wider audience, from promoting the industry to new talent, to convincing decision-makers that focusing on training, inspection, and high-quality products is imperative. It is also providing a clear, overriding message to all end users: ensuring that anyone they work with is highly competent and work-ready, and that the equipment used is of the highest quality. The message put out by LEEA, that, ‘This is a specialist industry, where high quality is a minimum requirement,’ is one that speaks to all stakeholders.”
Everything builds on established #GLAD2024 foundations of high-quality products, inspection, and training; and a legacy of LEEA’s organisational vision to eliminate accidents, injuries, and fatalities, placing further emphasis on skills and employment, which had emerged as front-running themes when the fifth GLAD drive was launched.
Companies like DLM are empowered to spread these messages to the point of use in industries such as civil engineering, construction, material handling, metals, military, offshore, subsea, and renewables, to name just a few.
“To progress the industry further we have to think outside of our everyday reality; this may mean we are not working on things that make us immediately profitable. We are prominent in the offshore and subsea industry, where lifting is a key part of everyday life. We are often on vessels or talking to operators about urgent projects and how our products can make their operations safer and more efficient,” said Halford.
“GLAD campaigning is always multifaceted in that we’re addressing people who’ve grown up with lifting equipment, and others who are totally new to it. We often say to the latter group of people that we are in the business of innovation, engineering, and safety. The products we manufacture are in all walks of life, even if you wouldn’t immediately notice them. Everything needs weighing, and engineering is all about finding solutions to overcoming force, or at least understanding forces better.”
Look out for new and exclusive #GLAD2024 content from DLM on July 18, including written and video materials. Employees will redouble these efforts and join other stakeholders in sharing messages from LEEA and its organising partners.
The association recently introduced an eye-catching campaign comprising a series of posters featuring a selection of lifting’s noteworthy achievements through the ages. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the renowned Victorian civil engineer; and Patrick Swayze holding Jennifer Grey aloft in the film, Dirty Dancing, all feature.
“They’re doing a good job of getting the message across,” enthused Halford. “The visuals that we have been sent look highly professional. Once again, LEEA has done a fantastic job with video content too. And it’s working; we have seen a much larger presence online and there seems to be a real buzz around lifting. I have even had friends from outside the industry start to ask me what GLAD is all about.
“On the cusp of #GLAD2024, I’m already looking forward to #GLAD2025, where we need to broaden the message further again and position the younger generation at the centre of outreach campaigns.”
