An elevator compensation assembly, comprising: a monitoring device for an elevator compensation assembly, the monitoring device comprising: at least one detector that is configured to detect whether compensation roping moves out of a predetermined position, wherein the at least one detector comprises a light source and a light sensor situated to sense light from the light source; the light sensor senses the light when the compensation roping is in predetermined position; and the compensation roping interrupts the light from reaching the light sensor when the compensation roping moves out of the predetermined position; and a controller that is configured to limit elevator movement based on an indication from the at least one detector that the compensation roping moved out of the predetermined position; wherein the elevator compensation assembly further comprises: a plurality of compensation roping members; and a tie-down mechanism including at least one sheave; wherein the predetermined position includes a position of each of the compensation roping members relative to the at least one sheave; the at least one sheave includes a plurality of grooves; a portion of each of the compensation roping members is received in a corresponding one of the grooves when the compensation roping members are in the predetermined position; and the at least one detector detects when any of the compensation roping members is outside of the corresponding one of the grooves. a monitoring device for an elevator compensation assembly, the monitoring device comprising: at least one detector that is configured to detect whether compensation roping moves out of a predetermined position, wherein the at least one detector comprises a light source and a light sensor situated to sense light from the light source; the light sensor senses the light when the compensation roping is in predetermined position; and the compensation roping interrupts the light from reaching the light sensor when the compensation roping moves out of the predetermined position; and a controller that is configured to limit elevator movement based on an indication from the at least one detector that the compensation roping moved out of the predetermined position; wherein the elevator compensation assembly further comprises: at least one detector that is configured to detect whether compensation roping moves out of a predetermined position, wherein the at least one detector comprises a light source and a light sensor situated to sense light from the light source; the light sensor senses the light when the compensation roping is in predetermined position; and the compensation roping interrupts the light from reaching the light sensor when the compensation roping moves out of the predetermined position; and a controller that is configured to limit elevator movement based on an indication from the at least one detector that the compensation roping moved out of the predetermined position; wherein the elevator compensation assembly further comprises: a plurality of compensation roping members; and a tie-down mechanism including at least one sheave; wherein the predetermined position includes a position of each of the compensation roping members relative to the at least one sheave; the at least one sheave includes a plurality of grooves; a portion of each of the compensation roping members is received in a corresponding one of the grooves when the compensation roping members are in the predetermined position; and the at least one detector detects when any of the compensation roping members is outside of the corresponding one of the grooves.