Special Riggers Practice Exam

Suspension lines must stay continuous and unmodified because their strength and reliability are tested for a single, intact rope under load. Splicing alters the rope’s construction, creating a joint that can behave unpredictably under dynamic or shock loading and may fail even when done by an expert. For lines that support a person, standards keep the line as a single, unspliced piece to avoid introducing a weak point in the load path. You can still inspect for wear and damage and repair or replace the line using approved methods, or re-tie/stow as permitted, but forming a splice on a suspension line is not allowed.