Bob McFarlane Joins RSS as Engineering & Compliance Manager

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) has appointed Bob McFarlane as engineering and compliance manager, strengthening its national on-site engineering capability.

Based at the company’s Netherton depot near Dudley, McFarlane will focus on delivering engineering services across the UK. He reports to Paul Smith, Midlands depot manager.

RSS supplies a broad portfolio of lifting, rigging, and height safety equipment, alongside training and its live365 digital compliance system. Its products, including blocks, shackles, hooks, slings, and harnesses, support major UK infrastructure projects and blue-chip clients, with all equipment subject to statutory inspection regimes.

McFarlane joins from Lloyds British, where he managed national contracts in critical infrastructure utilities. His new role will centre on RSS’s live365 programme, which combines digital examination records with data analysis tools to track safety trends and provide instant access to compliance documentation.

Smith said McFarlane brings “immediate credibility,” citing his experience in lifting equipment, engineering services, and proof load testing, supported by in-depth regulatory knowledge.

Managing director Steve Hutin described the hire as timely, as digitalisation reshapes inspection and compliance in the lifting sector. McFarlane added that RSS’s national coverage, expanding depot network, and focus on innovation position the business strongly for growth, with training services also playing a key role in its expansion strategy.