ATL tree veteran paralyzed after 60ft fall

[easyphloem]

Happened here at our company. Our guy has had a miraculous recovery, but still, the thought of free falling from that high and living. I hope he is able to recover enough to lead a fulfilling life.
SZ

 

[pctree]

I fell from 37' years ago and was lucky, no long term problems other than memory loss. Hope this guy can get back going. 2 man jump test people.

 

[Arborist1]

I fell from 37' years ago and was lucky, no long term problems other than memory loss. Hope this guy can get back going. 2 man jump test people.

I've heard a lot of people that do this before they climb. Just playing devils advocate couldn't shock loading a TIP like this possibly rip enough fibers to weaken the tie in point and make your climb more dangerous

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I think that the current suggestion is to do a two person STATIC test...no bounce.


Oh...and pick a bigger TIP!

Sometimes people get sucked into picking their primary TIP that is too small. Without doing a careful inspection this has lead to broken TIPs.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

I think that the current suggestion is to do a two person STATIC test...no bounce.


Oh...and pick a bigger TIP!

Sometimes people get sucked into picking their primary TIP that is too small. Without doing a careful inspection this has lead to broken TIPs.

I'm under the belief that bounce, jump and shock load is not the proper test on an anchor and not the cause of our TIP failures.
I'm comfortable with a 2 person static load on an anchor that I feel should be verified, not that every anchor or even many should fit that need.
It should be static, sustained and observed.
I think a worthwhile discussion would be is a two person static load enough? How long should it be sustained? Should it be 3 person (3x) the load? I hope to do further testing and of course conditions at the time of a climb will change the desire for a test. Another question is how much is too much? What damage could be done and how will the TIP be effected.

 

[pctree]

I figure a two person jump produces produces way more force than 1 person steadily ascending . Does it weaken the tip ? Don't know but do know I have had one break during ascent AFTER a jump test. If I ever use a questionable tip I always make sure there is a bomber crotchfor it to fall into. Let's face it we make life and death decisions based on an inspection through 80' of canopy. Roll of the dice.

 

[LimbLoppa]

Could you use a rope puller ( like a maasdam) with a weight sensor of some sort? Seems to me like you could increase the tension way more than normal to"test" your TIP then back off the pressure and ascend. I do not climb SRT (yet), but I see its advantages. I hope I don't sound stupid.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

I figure a two person jump produces produces way more force than 1 person steadily ascending . Does it weaken the tip ? Don't know but do know I have had one break during ascent AFTER a jump test. If I ever use a questionable tip I always make sure there is a bomber crotchfor it to fall into. Let's face it we make life and death decisions based on an inspection through 80' of canopy. Roll of the dice.

Paul, I totally agree that a 2 person jump induces much more than 1 person. I guess my point is the jump. How much does it induce? We don't know, it all depends on the jump. Plus it is momentary, so is it even valid or useful. I mean, our failures come from a steady load, probably not because we jumped on them or fell on them. A 2 person, or 3 or whatever we think is valid, is very measurable, it is constant and more like the loads we induce when TIPs do fail. We can say that if a TIP sustains a load for x time, without showing signs of stress, (movement, sag, crack, noise etc) it is 99.9% sure that it will take our climbing load that will be 1.15% or something to that amount, depending on climbing style. Maybe someone that is a tree humper should do a 3 person test as they will induce more load.
Just some food for thought. I hate seeing TIP failures, I don't thin the traditional bounce check has served us well, and I think more can be done to prevent them. Time to come up with another method.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

Could you use a rope puller ( like a maasdam) with a weight sensor of some sort? Seems to me like you could increase the tension way more than normal to"test" your TIP then back off the pressure and ascend. I do not climb SRT (yet), but I see its advantages. I hope I don't sound stupid.

Personally I think we need to be able to do it with what we have now available or it's not going to get done. But I think we are thinking about it and I think that is a good thought.

 

[Daniel]

I was just thinking about complacency today after having the thought of a buddy who has been tearing up bg trees for over 30 years and thinking we're both at a level now that it's unlikely that we'd get hurt..
THAT kind of thought is a major RED FLAG... it's a warning that complacency issetting in and having been injured as a direct result of complacency I know it when I think it...

BE careful and keep on your A game for safety.

PS I didn;t read the whole thread, and I like to hang three men if there is any question about a tie in point... You're not climbing alone, why not use the body weight that's there anyhow... I have broken a tie in point with the weight of two men on a test pull... only once though

 

[cbachmann]

Does anyone test TIPs differently for canopy vs basal anchoring? How about for ascent only vs extended working (eg. limb walking) TIP. Curious your thoughts.