ROUNDTABLE
The companies that win in the next decade will be those that make safety and training part of their culture.
AL: We rely partly on our allied industry partners – the OEM manufacturers or service organisations modernising or retrofitting cranes. We can’t adjust the regulations and standards for every new modern thing that comes out, so we cover key concepts. If we are on-site and we see anti-sway tech on their hoist, we can cover that, but it is not a regulatory requirement, so we don’t constantly adjust our curriculum. We have to be able to cover key activities and concepts that workers could see in any given environment, especially with digital learning. MR: These technologies have made equipment safer and more intelligent, but they’ve also raised the bar for technician competency. You can’t maintain what you don’t understand. Anti-sway systems, load monitoring and automated diagnostics all reduce the margin for human error, but they introduce new training requirements related to calibration, software updates and fault isolation. We now consider our field technicians to be as much technicians of information as of steel and wire rope. I often say that we are a data management company as much as anything else.
Is there a demand for new safety regulations or updated training standards? If so, why? What is driving the need for new regulatory parameters? IK-T: Safety is not really an area for competition or rivalry, so from that perspective it would be ideal if all companies worked towards the same standards and regulations around providing safe products and services. That
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said, corporations can move more quickly than legislation, so that’s why we choose to continuously improve the safety of our products and ways of working ourselves. AL: In the US, regulations are updated at a snail’s pace, but guidelines from ASME and other associations come out much quicker. Certifying bodies are constantly challenging the industry and they have come out with many certifications to enhance credentialling for many roles. Many organisations are pushing standards on hardware, slings, lift planning and much more. Relative to OSHA and other regulations, there is always room for improvement, and additional clarity and updated regulations would be valuable for the industry. MR: Yes, but it needs to be thoughtful.
The industry is overdue for more consistency in technician qualification standards and employer accountability. Right now, the quality of training programmes varies widely between companies. A standardised credential or certification process across the lifting service sector – similar to what exists in other skilled trades – would help elevate professionalism and safety across the board. The driver for this isn’t bureaucracy, it’s modernisation.
What are your expectations for the future in terms of how safety standards, safety training and technologies will develop? IK-T: Operators and technicians must now understand sensor logic, predictive algorithms and automated control systems. Our technicians
are undergoing a major shift in their skill sets, moving from primarily mechanical roles to hybrid profiles that integrate mechanical, electrical and digital expertise. This evolution is driven by the increasing adoption of smart crane systems, automation, sensors and remote diagnostics. Training materials are increasingly delivered across multiple platforms, and immersive environments are used to teach complex systems in a safe and scalable way, helping to raise safety awareness in constantly changing operational contexts. AL: I’m excited for AI to play a bigger role.
We will not meet learners where they are unless we adapt with faster and more scalable learning. I am excited about having more safeguards in place for OEMs that put in technology to advance what they are manufacturing. And I’m excited for front-line workers to be able to consume learning in more ways. I want to see how technology can enhance the training landscape, particularly as we try to attract new people to the industry. MR: I think we will see a convergence of
technology, data and training. Predictive analytics and connected devices will identify unsafe conditions before they cause incidents. Training will become increasingly interactive and personalised, using both simulation and AI- driven feedback loops. Our vision is to combine field experience with data intelligence to make the workplace not just safer, but smarter. The companies that win in the next decade will be those that make safety and training part of their culture, not just their checklist.
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