Ranger Lifting hires LEEA industry veteran as technical consultant

Co-founder of Checkmate, in the UK, Auston has served on the LEEA board for over a decade, including a tenure as its youngest ever chairperson. He has also served as a technical committee chairperson at the Work at Height Safety Association (WAHSA).

Ranger Lifting, based in Australia supplies lifting, rigging and safety equipment including; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for height safety applications, such as harnesses, straps, ropes, and anchoring devices.

“I first met Oliver at a LEEA event over 10 years ago. We were both trying to develop our knowledge base and enhance our industry skillset; we see the marketplace and business the same way. Our paths took us both to the LEEA board, where we contributed to continued improvement of industry best practices for several years. It always felt like we would explore commercial opportunities together one day and that opportunity has now presented itself. We are transparent about our plans to become the largest business of our type in Australia and there is nowhere we wouldn’t recruit from to source the best possible leadership to make that happen,” said Ashley Thacker, GM, Ranger Lifting.

Pure Safety Group (PSG) acquired Checkmate Lifting and Safety in 2018 but Auston continued as PSG chief innovation officer for a further three years. Over the past 20 years he has developed products from industrial soft goods through to complex engineered products, such as a full range of self-retracting lifelines, as well as bespoke machinery to enhance and automate manufacturing processes in both height safety and heavy lifting slings.

Auston has over 70 patents credited to his name and has won numerous accolades, including two Queen’s Awards for International Trade and Innovation, plus countless industry product and business honours, including LEEA Manager of the Year.

“I have long been an admirer of Ranger and the tenacity of its family leadership. It says something that Ashley and numerous colleagues regularly travelled from Australia to the UK to learn more about LEEA content, the most credible source of technical and legal advice, guidance, training,?and support in the lifting gear industry. I am excited about joining such a world-class team,” said Auston.