What is the correct action if a rigging label is illegible or altered?

• A. Do Not Use The Hardware Until The Label Is Verified
• B. Proceed With Caution If The Load Is Light
• C. Do Not Use; Verify Rating Before Reuse
• D. Paint Over The Label

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that rigging labels show the safe working load and other critical ratings. If a label is illegible or altered, you cannot confirm the gear’s capacity, so the safe action is to stop using the equipment and verify its rating before reuse. This ensures you know the exact load it’s rated for, confirm it’s appropriate for the lift, and detect any potential compromises. If the rating cannot be verified, replace the gear rather than guessing or risking overloading.

Other options are unsafe because they either encourage proceeding without knowing the actual capacity, or involve hiding or ignoring the information (painting over the label), which prevents any reliable assessment of safety.