What is the immediate action if life safety rope fails inspection?

• A. Immediately remove it from service
• B. Schedule a re-inspection
• C. Document the event and continue
• D. Replace with a new rope after a service check

Answer: (A)

When a life safety rope fails inspection, remove it from service immediately. A failed inspection indicates there could be damage or wear that might fail under load, risking the safety of the rescuer and anyone needing rescue. Take the rope out of circulation right away, tag it Do Not Use, and secure it so no one uses it. Record the failure in the equipment log and notify the supervisor. The rope should be retired or assessed by a qualified person to decide if it can be repaired or must be retired. If you need a replacement, bring in a new, inspected rope. Scheduling a re-inspection or continuing to use the rope after a failure aren’t acceptable because safety hinges on removing a compromised rope from service at once.