Over 15 years of experience, and a present stock of nearly 140 devices, have made us familiar with the use of avalanche-blasting ropeways (CATEX) in artificial avalanche release. Two years ago, in consultation with all other users we started to establish a list of recommendations for the safe use of CATEX, so that efficiency and reliability could be improved considerably. These guidelines have been designed to achieve safety by adapting CATEX technology to avalanche problems concerned with mechanical equipment, explosives, staff and maintenance.