About RSLES
Royal Society for Lifting Engineering Standards (RSLES) is an independent professional society specialising in lifting operations, lifting engineering governance, and technical standards related to lifting and access systems.
The society supports organisations and professionals operating within lifting-related sectors through structured frameworks focused on competence, operational safety, engineering integrity, and professional best practices.
Why We Exist
Lifting operations account for a disproportionate number of serious workplace incidents in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and logistics. The consequences of lifting failures — structural, financial, and human — can be catastrophic.
RSLES exists because the professionals who prevent those failures deserve a credible, structured professional recognition system that reflects the technical complexity and safety-critical nature of their work. And organisations that invest in lifting competence deserve a recognised framework through which to demonstrate it.
Our Role
RSLES provides a professional home for:
- Appointed persons in lifting operations
- Lifting planners and engineering specialists
- Crane supervisors and operators (professional level)
- Riggers, slingers, and banksmen
- Lifting equipment inspection engineers
- Lifting training providers and assessors
- Access engineering and working at height specialists
Mission
To support safe and competent lifting engineering practices through structured technical governance, professional development, and industry-focused standards frameworks.
Vision
To promote excellence, operational integrity, and professional competence within lifting-related engineering and access sectors internationally.
Core Values
Engineering Safety
Placing operational and structural safety at the centre of all lifting engineering activities.
Operational Integrity
Upholding the highest standards of operational discipline and technical rigour.
Technical Competence
Recognising and developing genuine, demonstrable lifting engineering capability.
Professional Standards
Holding recognised professionals to clear, measurable professional obligations.
Responsibility
Acknowledging the safety-critical nature of lifting operations and acting accordingly.
Continuous Improvement
Supporting the ongoing development of lifting engineering knowledge, practices, and standards.
