What must be verified regarding lifting lugs before they are used?

Before lifting lugs are used, it is essential to verify their Working Load Limit (WLL) rating. The WLL rating indicates the maximum load that a lifting lug can safely support during lifting operations. This is crucial because exceeding the WLL can lead to equipment failure, potentially causing accidents, injuries, or damage to materials and surroundings.

Ensuring that the lifting lugs meet the necessary WLL ratings allows operators to safely plan and execute lifting operations without risk. It also ensures compliance with safety regulations and industry standards, which often mandate verifying that all lifting equipment, including lugs, are suitable for the intended loads.

While other factors such as weight of load, color coding, and length dimensions may also be relevant in specific contexts, they do not directly address the safety and integrity of the lifting operation in terms of load capacity in the same way that the WLL does. This makes the verification of the WLL rating the most critical aspect before using lifting lugs.