California Code, Labor Code - LAB § 7300

(a) It is the purpose of this chapter to promote public safety awareness and to assure, to the extent feasible, the safety of the public and of workers with respect to conveyances covered by this chapter.

(b) The use of unsafe or defective conveyances imposes a substantial probability of serious and preventable injury to employees and the public. The prevention of these injuries and protection of employees and the public from unsafe conditions is in the best interest of the people of this state. Therefore, this chapter also establishes minimum standards for persons operating or maintaining conveyances covered by this chapter. These standards include familiarity with the operation and safety functions of the components and equipment, and documented training or experience or both, which shall include, but not be limited to, recognizing the safety hazards and performing the procedures to which they are assigned in conformance with all legal requirements.

(c) This chapter is not intended to prevent the division from implementing regulations, nor to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, code effectiveness, durability, and safety to those required by the law, provided that there is technical documentation to demonstrate that the equivalency of the system, method, or device, is at least as effective as that prescribed in ASME A17.1, ASME A17.3, ASME A18.1, or ASCE 21.