After splicing an eye in a piece of wire rope, the splice should be parceled and served to __________.

Correct Answer: Option D — prevent hand injury by covering loose ends

Parcelling and serving an eye splice protects the crew from 'fishhooks'—sharp, protruding wire ends that cause severe lacerations. While it also protects the rope from moisture and corrosion, the primary safety requirement under standard deck maintenance protocols is to cover these dangerous, jagged wire ends to prevent hand injuries.