Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) has completed a 10-week nationwide training programme covering its live365 digitalisation and compliance project.
RSS is already at the forefront of the lifting industry’s increasing adoption of digital safety systems — and now all of its UK depots are equipped to offer data management tools to customers. Training was delivered in-person at 10 locations, covering both administrator and inspector modules, underscored by an unwavering commitment to compliance within the lifting industry.
Sessions were led on each occasion by Leanne Whitehurst-Maiden, national digitalisation manager at RSS. She outlined how live365 combines digitalised inspection services with comprehensive data analysis software to analyse safety trends. live365 centres on the importance of maintaining essential safety documentation (current and historical) along with any-time access.
Whitehurst-Maiden said: “Digitalisation is the key to a safer lifting industry for all; we’re not facing inwards, within the four walls of our company, in that context. However, what we can immediately control is an in-house adherence to digitalisation, standardisation nationwide, and CPD [continuous professional development], which were themes that upheld all of our recent learning sessions.”
Steve Hutin, managing director at RSS, said: “Completion of this 10-week programme represents a significant milestone for the company in digitalisation and compliance. Leanne is one of the lifting and rigging sector’s few leaders in this specialist field. She has engaged our workforce in this endeavour up and down the country — and they have brought their own energy and enthusiasm to the process. We all continue to look to Leanne for ongoing direction as we take the next steps towards industry-wide digital compliance.”
RSS offers a comprehensive catalogue of lifting and rigging equipment and services, most notably to joint ventures, consortiums, large-scale infrastructure projects, and blue chip businesses. Central to its range are Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections. It has set an ambitious target of all customers being totally digital when it comes to traceability and compliance within the next 18 months, empowered by industry’s adoption of the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
“Practically,” Whitehurst-Maiden added, “This means ongoing training, focussing on the safety benefits of digitalised inspection records, to ensure site personnel have access to live data regarding the status of equipment. We are challenging all of our suppliers to embed RFID [radio-frequency identification] chips in lifting and rigging gear, so all equipment can be provided at the point of use with digital passports. These passports are data management tools that record product lifecycle information, such as material composition, energy performance, maintenance guidelines, and recycling methods. Yes, passports inherently reduce paper, but also ensure equipment is more likely to be repaired than replaced, creating an immediate sustainability incentive.”
Having completed the latest round of in-house training, Whitehurst-Maiden has again pivoted outwards to promote the company’s wrap-around service for customers, including hire and sale of digital equipment; inspection services; hardware; software; and training, which includes Lifting Equipment Engineers Association [LEEA]-accredited lifting courses. It also offers a comprehensive data analysis software option to look at data trends across sites, allowing customers increased visibility of best practices as they strive towards total accident prevention. Digitalisation also chimes with ongoing investment in the RSS hire fleet; live365 will be crucial in standardising and synchronising systems, while striving to continuously improve internal compliance processes.
