Certification is not just a formality
In the field of personal protective equipment and fall protection, it is the decisive indicator of quality that distinguishes safe operation from life-threatening failure.
All equipment that protects workers at height including harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting fall arresters, and power ascenders must be independently tested, verified, and certified by a recognized Notified Body before being placed on the market.
This is mandated by EU Regulation 2016/425 (PPE Regulation) as well as standards such as EN 1808 for suspended work platforms. The certification process is designed to be rigorous from the outset. It requires significant investment in engineering services, independent laboratory testing, documentation, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
These requirements exist for a single reason: The consequences of failure are irreversible.
When documentation is forged,
safety becomes a sham
In recent years, the growth of the global safety equipment market has attracted actors who seek to completely circumvent this process not by offering better products, but by forging certification documents.
This is no minor breach of the rules. It is deliberate deception that puts users in direct danger. We take firm action against competitors who market their products using fraudulent certification documents.
This page is designed to ensure that operators, purchasers and safety officers have the information they need to protect their teams.
The Specific Case
In April 2026, SKYLOTEC formally filed a complaint with the European Commission (DG Internal Market) against the sale of the Smart Spider Max and Smart Spider Pro.
Battery-powered winches manufactured by the Chinese company MODE, distributed in Germany by Kratos Safety SAS (France). EU declarations of conformity were issued and promoted for both products, even though the legal requirements had not been met. The notified bodies listed did not, in fact, carry out the claimed tests.
ICR Polska has confirmed in writing that no certificates were issued for these products. Ente Certificazione Macchine SRL (ECM) has publicly confirmed this and published an official warning on its website.
Despite repeated attempts to conceal the forgery, including the removal of names, logos, and certificate numbers, the products are traceable and the case is the subject of official proceedings.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE OPERATOR
OF A NON-CERTIFIED WINDING WINCH
Consequences:
Legal consequences vary across the EU from country to country, depending on national legislation. In addition to stricter liability for damages, insurance cover may be at risk. Furthermore, there is a risk of criminal consequences if people are put at risk through the use of untested technology, despite knowing better.
Financial risk:
The costs of an unplanned equipment replacement are significant. The costs of an unexplained accident are irreversible – financially, legally and in human terms. No savings on procurement justify this risk.
Operational measures in case of suspicion:
1. Take the equipment out of service immediately
2. Do not pass on or sell the equipment
3. Contact the Notified Body directly; check the serial number against the certificate number
4. Document and archive all steps
5. Inform the insurer and solicitor
HOW TO PROPERLY VERIFY A CERTIFICATE
Power-driven machinery intended for lifting persons should be certified by an independent Notified Body authorized to inspect this type of lifting equipment in accordance with the “Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Annex IX, 17: Equipment for lifting persons or persons and goods where there is a risk of falling from a height of more than three meters.”
This can be verified on the European Commission’s NANDO website (“New Approach Notified and Designated Organizations”) at the following link:
The marking and labeling of the respective machine must correspond to the official test report and the certificate issued by the Notified Body. The EEC-type numbers should be provided upon request. Motor-driven equipment may only be used in accordance with its tested and approved intended use.
The relevant conformity assessment, marking, operating instructions, and the manufacturer’s specifications are decisive in this regard. Anyone importing or placing motor-driven equipment on the market in the EU or the United Kingdom must ensure that the applicable legal requirements are met and that the equipment is approved for its intended use.
Operators are responsible for ensuring that the equipment is used as intended and exclusively by appropriately qualified and trained personnel. Users must have access to the necessary information, operating instructions, and training.
WARNING SIGNS - CHECKLIST
□
The manufacturer’s address on the certificate does not match the one in the manual, on the device, or in its packaging
□
The date of issue is a long time ago; no proof of renewal
□
The standard reference does not match the product type
□
No name or signature of a responsible person on the DoC
□
The Notified Body cannot be found in the NANDO database
□
The certificate is only available as a low-resolution PDF; no original is available
You wish contact by telephone?
We are happy to help you by phone.