What action should be taken when rot is discovered on a rope?

When rot is discovered on a rope, the appropriate action is to remove the rotten rope and any surrounding rope from service. This approach is critical for maintaining safety and ensuring that all parts of the rope remain reliable. Rot can compromise the structural integrity of a rope, making it unfit for use, particularly in emergency situations where lives may depend on the rope's performance.

Disregarding the entirety of the compromised section includes even nearby areas that may not appear damaged but could have been affected by the same environmental factors that caused the deterioration. By removing both the affected section and the surrounding rope from service, you ensure that there's no risk of unexpected failure during use.

In contrast, simply cutting out the rotten section may leave weaker parts of the rope that could potentially fail under strain. Repairing the rope with adhesive is not a viable long-term solution for safety-critical applications, as adhesives may not restore the rope's original strength and could lead to failure. Discarding the entire rope without assessing the surrounding areas misses the opportunity to ensure that the safe portions of the rope can still be usable. Thus, removing both the rotten and nearby rope sections ensures a higher standard of safety and reliability.