Form
Form - Rope and Rescue Equipment Log
Document FSSMS-FRM-41Stage 1Revision 4Version 0.3.3
Topic pages open on your jurisdiction, and requirements tables show its line. You can change this on any page.
One log per rope and one per hardware item or matched set: harnesses, descent control devices, pulleys, rope grabs, rigging plates, carabiner sets, anchor straps, webbing, prusiks, edge protectors, litters and escape kits in a rope rescue kit, plus confined space retrieval lines and the tethers and belay lines used at water and ice. The log stays with the kit. The member who uses an item records the use and the pre-use and post-use inspections before the kit is restowed; the custodian records the quarterly inspection and any retirement. The classes, marking and care requirements follow the life safety rope and equipment standard (NFPA 2500, 2022, ch. 24 to 28), and the complete use history and retire-on-doubt rule follow the fire service guidance on life safety rope (MLITSD, n.d., GN 1-5). An item with no history is not used; it is quarantined until the custodian decides (Rope Rescue Program sections 5.4 to 5.6).
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Log number and item ID (marked on both ends of a rope) | |
| Item type (rope / harness / descent control / pulley / rope grab / rigging plate / carabiner set / anchor strap / webbing / prusik set / edge protector / litter / escape kit / retrieval line / water rescue tether or belay line) | |
| NFPA class (G general use / T technical use / E escape), or “water rescue rope, not life safety rope” | |
| Marking edition (2022 edition under NFPA 2500, labelled with the former standard number / NFPA 1983, 2017 edition) | |
| Manufacturer, model, serial or lot number; certificate of conformance reference | |
| Rope only: length, diameter, construction, colour | |
| Date of manufacture; date in service; service life ends (manufacturer’s limit) | |
| Kit and station; custodian (role) |
| Date | Use (incident / training / drill / inspection only) | Event or drill reference | System role (main / belay / tether / anchor / retrieval / litter / escape) | Load (one person / two persons / litter / none) | Exposure (impact load / edge or abrasion / heat / chemical / water / contamination / none) | Pre-use inspection (by, result) | Post-use inspection (by, result) | Cleaned (method, date) | Decision (in service / quarantine / retire) | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Findings (sheath, core, glazing, flat or soft spots, stiffness; gate, lock, spring, cracks, deformation, corrosion, wear; webbing, stitching, labels) | Decision | Custodian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Date retired and by whom (role) | |
| Criterion (impact load / chemical exposure / heat or flame / sheath damage exposing the core / flat, soft or hard spot / glazing / history cannot be confirmed / service life reached / failed inspection / hardware dropped where the manufacturer requires retirement / used for anything other than life safety / doubt) | |
| Disposal (rope cut into short lengths and marked / hardware destroyed / returned to the manufacturer, with result) | |
| Custodian sign-off; inventory updated (by, date) |
| Field | Type | Required | Who completes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log number and item ID | Text, unique | Yes | Custodian |
| Item type; NFPA class; marking edition | Single choices | Yes | Custodian, from the label |
| Manufacturer, model, serial or lot; certificate reference | Text | Yes | Custodian |
| Rope length, diameter, construction, colour | Text and numbers | Yes for rope | Custodian |
| Dates of manufacture and service; service life end | Dates | Yes | Custodian |
| Kit, station, custodian | Text | Yes | Custodian |
| Use date, type, reference, system role, load | Date; choices; text | Yes for every use | Member who used the item |
| Exposure | Multiple choice | Yes for every use, “none” allowed | Member who used the item |
| Pre-use and post-use inspection | Initials and result | Yes for every use | Member, with the custodian for any doubt |
| Cleaning | Method and date | Yes after any contamination | Member or custodian |
| Decision | Single choice | Yes for every entry | Member; custodian for quarantine and retirement |
| Quarterly inspection | Date, findings, decision | Yes each quarter | Custodian |
| Retirement fields | Date; choice; text; signature | Yes when retired | Custodian |
Retention. For the life of the item plus five years, the schedule in 05 Document Control and Records (Rope Rescue Program section 10). Audit sample. The audit draws ten ropes and ten hardware items and checks that every use has a pre-use and a post-use entry (Checklist - Confined Space, Trench and Rope Rescue).
This chapter relies on the following legal requirements, which differ by province and territory. Check your jurisdiction’s section on each topic page before adopting it.
| Topic | What to check in your jurisdiction | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Protection and Rope Access | The rope rescue equipment standard the regulation names for ropes, harnesses and hardware; whether a harness worn for firefighting or rescue must be inspected by a competent person before reuse; any rope access rules (code of practice, equipment standards, anchorage) that reach rescue or training work; and how long the records must be kept | J16 Fall Protection and Rope Access |
National Fire Protection Association. (2022). NFPA 2500, Standard for operations and training for technical search and rescue incidents and life safety rope and equipment for emergency services (consolidates NFPA 1670, 1858 and 1983). https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-2500-standard-development/2500
Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development [MLITSD]. (n.d.). Firefighter guidance notes (Section 21 Advisory Committee; individual notes revised to 2026). https://www.ontario.ca/document/firefighter-guidance-notes