Fall Line Tension is calculated to verify that the SWL of the ____ is not exceeded.

• A. rope
• B. block
• C. sheave
• D. cable

Answer: (A)

Fall line tension is the force carried by the line itself when a load is applied through the rigging as the system moves or stops a fall. To keep the system safe, you compare that tension to the Safe Working Load of the line. The element whose rating matters in this check is the rope, because it is the component actually bearing the load and experiencing the dynamic forces during a fall. If the rope’s SWL is exceeded, the line could fail even if the hardware remains intact. The block (pulley) and the sheave are supporting hardware and simply redirect the rope; they aren’t the part whose SWL is being tested in this calculation. The term can refer to a cable if steel cable is used, but in this context the evaluation targets the rope’s rating to ensure the fall line tension stays within safe limits.