ROUNDTABLE
Amanda Long, SVP for the Industrial Market at Industrial Training International (ITI).
are standardised, recurring training and better integration between field safety programmes and operational performance. Companies that view safety as a ‘compliance function’ miss the bigger picture – it’s a leadership function.
How has this changed over the past few years? What big improvements have been made to safety requirements and relevant training initiatives? IK-T: The traditional crane business has undergone significant changes over the years. Enhanced safety regulations and standards in the lifting industry are driven by increased
awareness and legal requirements. Nowadays, modern cranes are designed with advanced safety features, such as better load monitoring systems and stability controls. To support this, we’ve introduced a range of tools and training methods across roles. Our goal is to help every individual understand what action is required from them and to take full accountability for safety and performance. AL: Young people expect digital training, so it is important to find a mix. People raised on YouTube and social media are still going into a hands-on role, so the formal parts of training – on-the-job training or mentorship programmes – must be accessible and practical. The number of frontline workers has declined in the past 30 years, and that is the problem we must solve. Career opportunities in skilled labour are coming into the spotlight, but we have never had enough young people wanting to go into skilled trades, so where are the tools that can play a role in attracting people? MR: The industry has matured substantially in its approach to safety over the past decade. Most reputable service providers now have formalised training programmes, field verification audits and digital reporting systems that create real accountability. We’ve invested heavily in structured onboarding, technician credentialling and recurring safety validation. Those efforts, combined with data-driven tracking of safety performance, have kept our recordable incident rate below 1.0. Regulatory changes, particularly updates from OSHA and ASME, have also pushed the industry to raise its bar. The result is a safer, more professional service environment – but one that must continue to evolve.
Does the industry understand how training supports safety, and do organisations give it sufficient priority, particularly as technology solutions evolve? IK-T: Training is fundamental. It plays a significant role in reducing risks and accidents and enhancing the overall safety of operations. We actively monitor safety-related KPIs to drive improvement and learning from safety observations. We run a structured, role-based onboarding and training initiative designed to ensure that all new field operatives and service technicians meet global safety, process and technical standards. As technology solutions evolve, training becomes increasingly important to keep the team members updated with the latest advancements and best practices, and continuous investment is crucial to ensure that safety remains a top priority. AL: Safety is always a top priority, but it is not an operational cost centre that is baked in, even though it should be. Organisations care about people coming home and not getting hurt, but when it comes down to choosing comprehensive training models and making the investment of money or time, it depends on how they are organised and how the modules are presented. In every organisation, any lifting activities are typically in their highest risk category, so we need to develop training in a scalable way, reinforcing hands-on training with supplemental digital or simulation experiences. The most expensive part of training is not the training itself but taking people off the floor or not giving training, which incurs an even bigger cost. MR: Training isn’t just part of safety – it is safety. Every incident we’ve ever studied comes back to
Regulatory standards are high, and companies have an obligation to protect workers, prevent equipment damage and ensure compliance.
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