4.1 This guide establishes a minimum standard for training rope rescuers as it relates to their rope rescue specific knowledge and skills. A person trained to this guide is an endorsed Level III Rope Rescuer (LRT-R3 Rescuer).

4.1.1 Every person who is identified as an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer shall have met the requirements of this guide.

4.1.2 This guide is only the third level of training for rope rescue personnel and, in conjunction with Guides F2209, F2751, F2752, and F2954, only establishes the minimum knowledge and skills required for a person to perform or lead advanced rope rescue. No other advanced skills are included or implied.

4.1.3 In addition to meeting the requirements of this guide, an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer shall also be adequately trained to operate effectively and safely in the environment in which he is expected to work (that is, wilderness, urban, industrial, and so forth).

4.1.4 Nothing in this guide precludes an AHJ from adding additional requirements for its own members.

4.2 Endorsement to Level III Rope Rescue (LRT-R3 Rescuer) is an indication that a person possesses adequate field skills and knowledge to make mission-critical decisions. A person so endorsed is qualified to support or direct a rope rescue team in an area with high fall exposure and/or falling hazard potential, including high angle environments.

4.3 This guide by itself is not a complete training document. It is only an outline of the topics required for training or evaluating an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer. It may, however, be used in the development of, or as part of, a complete training document or program.

4.3.1 This guide does not stand alone. It must be used with the referenced documents to provide the specific information needed by an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer or for an AHJ to properly evaluate a training program or text.

4.4 Though this guide establishes only minimum standards, it does not imply that an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer is a "trainee," "probationary," or other similar term member of an organization. It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the requirements and qualifications for member ratings.

4.5 Because technical rope rescue is inherently dangerous, and rope rescuers are frequently required to perform rigorous activities in adverse conditions, regional and national safety standards shall be included in agency and organization policies and procedures. An endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer shall complete all activities based on an analysis of risk versus benefit, and shall follow applicable and mandated safety standards.

4.6 This guide can be used to evaluate a document to determine if its content includes the topics necessary for training an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer. Likewise, this guide can be used to evaluate an existing training program to see if it meets the requirements of this guide.

4.7 The knowledge and skills requirements in the following sections are not presented in any particular order and do not represent a training sequence.

4.8 Except where a physical skill needs to be shown, it is up to the AHJ to determine the best way to evaluate a person's knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or by some combination of the three.