What situation should be avoided when rope is under tension?

When considering the safe management of rope during rescue operations, it's crucial to avoid situations that could compromise the integrity of the ropes or the safety of those involved in the rescue. Allowing a second rope under tension to run across another rope introduces a significant risk of severe damage or failure. This is because the tension creates friction between the two ropes, which can lead to wear and potentially catastrophic failure of either rope.

In rescue scenarios, maintaining control and minimizing the risk of equipment failure is essential. By avoiding the crossing of tensioned ropes, you minimize the risk of both ropes inadvertently cutting into one another, leading to compromised safety lines at critical moments. This approach aligns with standard safety protocols, which emphasize clear pathways and separation of load-bearing components to maintain the integrity of the rescue system.

Other scenarios such as using multiple ropes or wrapping a rope around stationary objects can be managed with appropriate techniques and safety measures, making them less immediately hazardous than the situation involving tensioned ropes running across one another.