How do you determine the appropriate load rating of rigging hardware?

• A. Manufacturer specifications with safety margin
• B. Guess by feel
• C. Look at color
• D. Use rope rating

Answer: (A)

Rely on manufacturer specifications with a safety margin to determine the load rating. Rigging hardware is rated by the maker based on testing and standards, and those ratings already include a built-in safety factor to cover real-world conditions such as dynamic loads, misalignment, wear, and long-duration loading. To apply this, check the device for its stated Working Load Limit or rated capacity from the manufacturer or catalog, and ensure it matches or exceeds the loads you expect in the rescue scenario, considering factors like angle loading and redundancy. Never guess the rating by feel, rely on color, or use rope rating alone, as those don’t provide a valid measure of hardware strength.