Global Lifting Awareness Day 2026 is scheduled for Thursday 2 July. Organised by UK lifting trade association the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), with involvement from LEEA members and supporting industry stakeholders, #GLAD2026 will culminate in publication of a guidance document designed to help procurement professionals source lifting equipment.
2026 marks the seventh annual #GLAD event and this year’s theme is: ‘Not all lifting equipment is created equal’. The day comprises manufacturers, suppliers and end users sharing material to promote safe and high quality load lifting. Social media posts, videos, articles, and in-person activity will be bound together by the hashtag, #GLAD2026.
“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,” said Matt Barber, director of membership at LEEA. “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.
“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 urges you to follow the campaign and share your stories using #GLAD2026.
