2024 NATE SEMC Quick Rigging Connector Testing Report 

Over the years, incidents, fatalities, and confusion sur­rounding the use of carabiners in the telecom industry have raised significant safety concerns. To address this, the NATE OSHA Relations Committee conducted a survey among NATE members to assess current practices and product usage. The survey revealed that material handling carabiners are widely used across the industry, with over 75% of respondents reporting usage; primarily for gross loads under 500 lbs. To clarify the distinction between carabiners designed as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per ANSI/ASSP Z359, for dropped objects per ANSI/ISEA 121, and those intended for material handling; this paper will refer to connectors designated for material handling as Quick Rigging Connectors (QRCs).

The Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) collaborated with industry stakeholders to identify the most used QRCs. Four manufacturers were selected, offering steel QRCs in various sizes, construction types, and styles.

The Quick Rigging Connector testing event was conducted at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) over three days with 15 different scenarios and over 100 individual tests completed. The testing utilized new and used equipment, utilizing a calibrated electro-mechanical screw-driven frame to ensure accuracy and repeatability. All QRCs underwent testing and were certified by their manu­facturers for material-handling applications. The SEMC established a target working load limit of 500 lbs. with a 5:1 safety factor.

Download Here

Climber Connection: NATE Carabiners and Quick Rigging Connectors

Watch