INTRODUCTION

THE LIFTING EQUIPMENT ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1944 as the Chain Testers Association of Great Britain, the Association adopted its present title in 1988 in order to reflect, more accurately, the present-day activities of its members. The association now has a global membership of over 1300 organisations operating from over 2000 locations in 83 countries.

The members’ strength derives from their accumulated expertise and from the adoption of the Association’s technical requirements. These are published in a document reference LEEA 042 together with guidance notes as an aid to implementation. The technical requirements demand the highest standards of equipment, personnel, procedures and records. Members are subjected to regular compliance audits by LEEA. No organisation is admitted as a Full Member until it has met all the requirements.

Besides the design, manufacture, modification, sale or hire of lifting equipment, members offer a complete service of periodic examination, testing, repair, re-certification, maintenance, modernisation and general servicing. Some also offer training courses for the competent person in lifting operations and in-service inspection. Many are members of the LEEA accredited training scheme and offer courses whose content and delivery have been audited and accredited by LEEA.

Many large organisations, including government agencies, electricity generators, oil and gas producers, port authorities, chemical plants, steel producers and dockyards are Associate Members.

The Association makes a substantial contribution to the preparation of standards and codes through its membership of British, European, ASME, Australian and International Standards bodies. It also works closely with government and legal authorities, such as the UK Health and Safety Executive, and with other bodies concerned with safety globally.

The Association provides comprehensive training courses for member personnel engaged in the examination, supplementary testing and certification of lifting equipment. These can be delivered in several ways:

  • Instructor-led practical courses at our specially equipped training centre in Huntingdon, UK

  • Instructor-led training courses at members’ premises worldwide

  • Combined Member Training Events – worldwide, providing access for regional delegates

  • E-Learning through the LEEA Academy online platform

  • Zoom training courses delivered over specific course dates

  • Blended learning that combines e-Learning and Instructor-led delivery methods.

The courses include safety in use and legal requirements. Candidates successful in LEEA’s end-point assessments qualify for the Foundation and Advanced Programme awards. A technician who is employed by a LEEA member and has passed the end-point assessment for an Advanced Programme award will receive a LEEA TEAM Card which provides evidence of the holders’ LEEA qualifications. The TEAM Card bears a photograph of the holder, their name and that of their employer and states the subjects in which they have achieved LEEA Advanced Programme awards (previously known as LEEA Diplomas).

The Association’s activities are devoted to quality, safety, training and the development of products and services at the highest level of integrity.

The benefits of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association are not confined to its members. When dealing with member companies the user can be confident that they are dealing with organisations that are capable, have adequate facilities for the work they undertake and that the personnel concerned are qualified to do their jobs.