Fall factors >0.25 are not acceptable for what?

• A. Climbing
• B. Rescue
• C. Rappelling
• D. Industrial Lifting

Answer: (B)

Fall factor is the ratio of how far you fall to the length of rope that can absorb that fall. A higher factor means the rope and anchors must take a bigger shock, so the loads spike dramatically.

In rescue work, you’re often dealing with a person in a dangerous situation and fixed systems that must remain intact under extreme stress. Keeping the fall factor very low minimizes peak forces on ropes, anchors, and gear, reducing the risk of rupture or failure and protecting both the victim and the rescuer. A fall factor exceeding 0.25 would generate too much energy for the equipment and setup to safely absorb, making it unacceptable in rescue scenarios.

Climbing and rappelling involve controlled belaying or braking and are designed to manage larger fall factors with energy absorption through a belayer, dynamic rope, and braking actions. Industrial lifting operates under different safety standards and doesn’t use fall factors in the same way, so the concern is not the same.