Rope failure in the telecommunications industry isn’t just inconvenient — it can be fatal. From hauling gear to protecting climbers during rescues, ropes are literal lifelines. Yet improper use, skipped inspections, or choosing the wrong rope for the job continues to put workers at risk.

To address this, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has launched its Rope Selection and Use Survey — a nationwide effort to gather first-hand data, close safety gaps, and improve industry standards.

The survey seeks input from tower techs, safety leads, foremen, trainers, executives, and procurement teams on how ropes are chosen, inspected, and retired from service. The goal: reduce incidents, improve training, and influence future OSHA safety recommendations.

“Every broken rope or overlooked inspection represents a preventable risk,” NATE’s OSHA Relations Committee warns. “We can’t fix what we don’t understand.”

If you work with ropes in any capacity, your insight could help save lives. Take the survey, share your experience, and help make every job site safer.