A material handling system comprising a material lifting device; said material lifting device having: a sensor for sensing an operational parameter associated with said material lifting device; a load attachment device configured and arranged to attach a load to said material lifting device; said load attachment device having a data tag containing data regarding one or more parameters associated with said load attachment device; a reader configured and arranged to read said data tag; a processing unit communicating with said reader and said sensor; said processing unit configured and arranged to receive data from said reader and said sensor; and a material handling control device configured and arranged to control operation of said lifting device; characterized in that: said data tag comprises a writable RFID tag and said processing unit is configured and arranged to write to the RFID tag, said material handling control device communicates data wirelessly with said lifting device via an interface and said lifting device includes a material handling control device communication interface configured to receive user data from said material handling control device such as a user ID; said reader includes an RFID writer and is configured and arranged to write data to said data tag, data written to said tag (20 may include parameter data that may include a variable which is a function of the operation time of the load attachment device since its last maintenance, a record of any emergency or warning conditions during operation, a record of which user IDs were operating the system and maintenance related data, and wherein said operational parameter associated with said material lifting device comprises load weight, said parameter associated with said load attachment device comprises rated weight capacity, and said processing unit is programmed to compare said load weight and said rated weight capacity and provide a warning signal output if said load weight exceeds said rated weight capacity. a sensor for sensing an operational parameter associated with said material lifting device; a load attachment device configured and arranged to attach a load to said material lifting device; said load attachment device having a data tag containing data regarding one or more parameters associated with said load attachment device; a reader configured and arranged to read said data tag; a processing unit communicating with said reader and said sensor; said processing unit configured and arranged to receive data from said reader and said sensor; and a material handling control device configured and arranged to control operation of said lifting device; characterized in that: said data tag comprises a writable RFID tag and said processing unit is configured and arranged to write to the RFID tag, said material handling control device communicates data wirelessly with said lifting device via an interface and said lifting device includes a material handling control device communication interface configured to receive user data from said material handling control device such as a user ID; said reader includes an RFID writer and is configured and arranged to write data to said data tag, data written to said tag (20 may include parameter data that may include a variable which is a function of the operation time of the load attachment device since its last maintenance, a record of any emergency or warning conditions during operation, a record of which user IDs were operating the system and maintenance related data, and wherein said operational parameter associated with said material lifting device comprises load weight, said parameter associated with said load attachment device comprises rated weight capacity, and said processing unit is programmed to compare said load weight and said rated weight capacity and provide a warning signal output if said load weight exceeds said rated weight capacity. said data tag comprises a writable RFID tag and said processing unit is configured and arranged to write to the RFID tag, said material handling control device communicates data wirelessly with said lifting device via an interface and said lifting device includes a material handling control device communication interface configured to receive user data from said material handling control device such as a user ID; said reader includes an RFID writer and is configured and arranged to write data to said data tag, data written to said tag (20 may include parameter data that may include a variable which is a function of the operation time of the load attachment device since its last maintenance, a record of any emergency or warning conditions during operation, a record of which user IDs were operating the system and maintenance related data, and wherein said operational parameter associated with said material lifting device comprises load weight, said parameter associated with said load attachment device comprises rated weight capacity, and said processing unit is programmed to compare said load weight and said rated weight capacity and provide a warning signal output if said load weight exceeds said rated weight capacity.