A tiedown must not be used for cargo securement if
- there are knots in the tiedown.
- any grab hooks are spread or disturbed.
- there are gouges in the chain links.
- any of the above are true. ✓
Answer: D. any of the above are true.
A tiedown must not be used for cargo securement if any of the listed defects are present, including knots, spread or disturbed grab hooks, or gouged chain links.
Why this is the answer
The handbook gives a list of conditions that make a tiedown unfit for securing cargo. That list includes knots anywhere in the chain, wire rope, or webbing; grab hooks that are spread or disturbed; and chain links weakened by gouges, nicks, or pits. Because each of those defects appears in the same disqualifying list, any one of them is enough to rule out the tiedown. So the choice covering all of the listed conditions is the correct one.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. there are knots in the tiedown. — Knots anywhere in the chain, wire rope, or webbing are specifically listed as a condition that makes a tiedown unfit for cargo securement, so this is only one part of the rule.
- B. any grab hooks are spread or disturbed. — Spread or disturbed grab hooks are specifically listed as a condition that makes a tiedown unfit for cargo securement, so this is only one part of the rule.
- C. there are gouges in the chain links. — Chain links weakened by gouges, nicks, or pits are specifically listed as a condition that makes a tiedown unfit for cargo securement, so this is only one part of the rule.
Remember it
When checking tiedowns, treat every defect on the handbook list as a stop sign: one bad knot, hook, or link is enough to reject it.