A　method　of　cable　safety　analysis　is　proposed　for　safety　evaluation　of　long-span　cable-stayed　bridges.　The　Daniels＇　effect　and　the　probability　of　broken　wires　in　the　cable　are　introduced　to　develop　the　cable　strength　model　and　the　reliability　assessment　technique　for　long-span　cable-stayed　bridges　based　on　the　safety　factors　analysis　of　stay　cables　in　service.　As　an　application　of　the　proposed　model,　the　cable　safety　reliability　of　the　cable　No.25　of　Zhaobaoshan　cable-stayed　bridge　in　China　is　calculated.　The　effects　of　various　parameters　on　the　estimated　cable　safety　reliability　are　investigated.　The　results　indicate　that　the　proposed　method　can　be　used　to　assess　the　safety　level　of　stay　cables　in　cable-stayed　bridges　effectively.　The　Daniels＇　effect　should　be　taken　into　account　for　assessment,　and　the　probability　of　broken　wires　can　be　used　to　simulate　the　deterioration　of　stay　cables　in　service.