What action is appropriate when a rigging component shows wear or cracks during a pre-use inspection?

• A. Do not use; tag out; remove from service; report.
• B. Proceed with caution under half load.
• C. Sand the surface to remove cracks.
• D. Use on a lighter load.

Answer: (A)

When a rigging component shows wear or cracks during pre-use inspection, the action taken must be to tag out, remove it from service, and report the condition. This prevents the damaged gear from being used at all, since any crack or wear can significantly reduce strength and lead to sudden failure under load. Tagging out signals to others that the piece is unsafe and must not be used until it has been inspected by qualified personnel and replaced or repaired as appropriate. Using caution or relying on a lighter load might seem like a workaround, but it does not address the underlying risk—the compromised component can fail unpredictably regardless of the load. Sanding the surface to remove cracks can hide the damage and weaken the material further, which is unacceptable. The proper procedure is to quarantine the gear and get it evaluated by the appropriate authority before any return to service.