How often should wire rope and hooks be inspected?

• A. Before each shift or use; periodic thorough inspections per manufacturer and applicable codes.
• B. Once a year.
• C. Never.
• D. Only when damaged.

Answer: (A)

Regular, proactive checks are essential for wire rope and hooks. You should inspect them before each shift or use to catch obvious damage right away, and you should also have periodic thorough inspections performed per the rope and hook manufacturer’s instructions and the applicable codes. The pre-use check focuses on obvious issues like broken strands, corrosion, kinks, birdcaging, crushing, deformation, or hook cracks and wear around the throat. The periodic inspections go deeper, carried out by a qualified person, to assess wear, diameter reduction, internal damage, and overall integrity as specified by standards and manufacturers. This combination helps prevent sudden failures from progressing wear, which is why the other options—once a year, never, or only when damaged—are unsafe and inadequate.