What defines a redundant anchor in practical terms?

• A. A single anchor point that bears all load.
• B. Two independent anchor points sharing load; redundancy reduces risk if one point fails.
• C. An anchor placed on a moving object.
• D. Two anchors connected by a single strap with no redundancy.

Answer: (B)

Redundancy means there are multiple load paths so a single failure doesn’t release the whole system. In practical terms, this means using two solid, independent anchor points and arranging the setup so the load is shared between them rather than resting on one point alone. If one anchor starts to fail—bone-droke rock, gear gives way, or the anchor pulls out—the other path still holds, keeping you protected. The anchors should be independent and connected in a way that doesn’t create a single point of weakness; proper equalization helps distribute the load without turning into a single failure point.

A setup that relies on a single anchor has no backup path, so a failure there ends the safety system. An anchor placed on a moving object isn’t inherently about redundancy, and two anchors connected by a single strap with no true redundancy still provides only one load path—if that strap or its points fail, the system can collapse.