Which of the following is NOT a part of the visual rope inspection criteria?

• A. Discoloration
• B. Diameter
• C. Fraying
• D. Radius Bend

Answer: (D)

Visual rope inspection focuses on visible signs of wear or damage on the rope itself. Discoloration can indicate heat, chemical exposure, or aging; checking diameter helps catch wear that reduces strength; fraying shows fibers breaking and the outer sheath deteriorating. Radius bend, on the other hand, is about how sharply the rope is bent around hardware or edges during use. It’s a routing/handling guideline to prevent damage, not a direct visible defect you look for in the rope’s condition during a visual check. So the item that doesn’t belong to visual inspection criteria is the radius bend.