Who is responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and rejecting climbing equipment?

• A. The person using climbing equipment
• B. The equipment manufacturer
• C. A certified safety inspector not on-site
• D. The site manager

Answer: (A)

You are the one responsible for the safety of your gear. Before you climb, you must inspect, maintain, and decide whether to use each piece of equipment. This means checking harness webbing for frays or cuts, buckles and stitching for integrity, carabiners for smooth opening/closing and locked gates, and rope for nicks, abrasions, or glazing. If anything looks damaged or uncertain, retire the gear—don’t use it.

Manufacturers provide gear and guidelines for care, and on-site safety roles like a site manager or a safety inspector can oversee procedures, but they don’t replace the climber’s obligation to verify gear before use. The climber is the person who must assess condition and make the call to reject gear if it isn’t safe.