Global Lifting Awareness Day 2026 Set for July

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has announced that Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) 2026 will take place on July 2. The annual event, now in its seventh year, will focus on the theme “Not all lifting equipment is created equal.”

GLAD brings together manufacturers, suppliers and end users to promote safe and high-quality lifting practices. The 2026 campaign will culminate in the release of a guidance document aimed at helping procurement professionals source lifting equipment more effectively.

Content shared during the campaign will include social media posts, videos, articles and in-person activities, all connected through the hashtag #GLAD2026.

According to LEEA, the initiative will also include a broader program designed to improve how lifting equipment is described and specified across the industry. The organization notes that inconsistencies in product descriptions can make it difficult for buyers to distinguish between equipment designed for demanding applications and that intended for lighter use.

Matt Barber, director of membership at LEEA, said: “GLAD is a globally recognised concept that stands on firm footings in its purpose to raise awareness about the challenges facing lifting industries across the world. LEEA has always sought to use the day to intensify our focus on a campaign message, whether that be addressing skills shortages and shaping tomorrow’s workforce, or reminding industry that not all lifting equipment is created equal. If we can leave industry with a meaningful takeaway, it only serves to give greater meaning and purpose to members’ and end users’ ongoing efforts to celebrate their roles in our sector.”

He added: “The most consequential decision in a lifting operation is often made weeks before the lift takes place, at the point of purchase. The sling, the hoist, the shackle, the lifting accessory; what was specified, what documentation came with it and whether the person who bought it had the information to make the right call. When that decision is made in an information vacuum, the risk doesn’t disappear. It gets transferred to the people doing the work.”

LEEA is also conducting a survey campaign involving both equipment suppliers and procurement professionals to better understand industry challenges and improve decision-making processes.

The organization’s stated goal is to encourage collaboration between buyers and suppliers and to promote more informed equipment selection across lifting operations worldwide.