What should you ensure to do when working close to the seat belt?

The correct action when working close to a seat belt is to check for fraying. Frayed seat belts can significantly compromise their integrity and effectiveness in protecting occupants during a crash. By inspecting them for any signs of wear, damage, or fraying, you ensure that the seat belts can still provide the necessary restraint in case of an emergency.

This proactive measure is crucial not only for safety but also for operational readiness, as firefighters often encounter vehicles at accident scenes where seat belt assessment is essential for patient stabilization or extrication efforts. Ensuring that seat belts are in good condition is part of a comprehensive safety evaluation when approaching a vehicle involved in an incident.

Cutting seat belts would be inappropriate as it destroys their capacity to hold occupants securely. Tightening them is a good practice only if they are already in proper working condition and would not help identify potential damage. Testing their strength may not be practical or reliable without appropriate tools and conditions, making a visual inspection for fraying the most suitable option in this context.