The use of equipment to hoist personnel is generally prohibited, with which exception?

• A. Authorized rescue operations
• B. Only for maintenance tasks
• C. Never allowed under any circumstance
• D. Allowed with supervisor approval

Answer: (A)

Hoisting people with equipment is avoided because it presents significant risks like falls, entanglement, and equipment failure. The only safe exception is authorized rescue operations, where trained personnel use properly rated hoisting equipment and follow a defined rescue plan to retrieve someone in danger. This ensures the operation has the necessary safeguards, training, and procedures. The other options don’t fit because maintenance tasks aren’t automatically exempt from the risks, a general supervisor approval doesn’t replace an approved rescue protocol, and a blanket prohibition would ignore the legitimate need to perform emergency rescues.