Which practice is explicitly stated as a safety guideline for handling lines on deck?

• A. Always wear bright gloves.
• B. Tie every rope into knots at every step.
• C. Keep hair and clothing secured; avoid loose ends; never step on a line.
• D. Leave lines unsecured when not in use.

Answer: (C)

Deck safety around lines hinges on preventing entanglement and trips. Keeping hair and clothing secured, avoiding loose ends, and never stepping on a line directly reduces the risk of getting pulled into moving gear, snagging on objects, or losing balance if a line suddenly comes under tension. Long hair or loose clothing can be snagged by blocks or winches, and loose ends can catch on tackle or footing, creating serious injuries. Not stepping on a line helps prevent it from shifting under your weight when others are handling it, which could drag you or cause a fall. When lines are not in use, securing them eliminates trip hazards and keeps the deck orderly. While wearing gloves can help, and lines should not be tied or left unsecured in ways that create hazards, the explicit guideline emphasized here is keeping hair and clothing secured, avoiding loose ends, and never stepping on a line.