1.5.1 Verification

All lifting equipment should be of adequate strength, sound material, of good construction and suitable for the duty which it must perform. It should be verified in accordance with the requirements of the standard being worked to. New equipment should comply with the essential health and safety requirements stipulated in the applicable legislation, product standard where available, and issued with the required conformity documentation specified therein. This documentation is often combined with the results of the verification and together they form the ‘birth certificate’ (see definitions in section 1.3.8 Manufacturer’s Certificate or Statement of Conformity and section 1.3.9 EC or UK Declaration of Conformity) which is an important legal document. When selecting lifting equipment, the guidance outlined in section 1.6 INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE USER AND THE DESIGNER OR SUPPLIER should be followed.