Who is responsible for checking the 5 Hs before climbing?

• A. The participant
• B. The safety supervisor
• C. The facilitator
• D. The belayer

Answer: (C)

Before anyone climbs, a standardized safety check is conducted to verify all critical elements are secure and ready. The facilitator leads this process and guides the group through the five Hs, ensuring gear fits properly, connections are secure, and the setup is correct. This role is responsible for initiating and confirming the safety check, providing consistency and immediate correction if something isn’t right. The participant should follow and participate in the check, but the authority to start and complete the verification rests with the facilitator. While a safety supervisor or the belayer has important duties, they don’t carry the primary responsibility for performing the overall pre-climb safety verification for the group in this context.