bucket harness

T

treewhisperer1

Location
Decatur, Georgia
wondering what most people wear while doing work in the bucket. I guess my question is: if you know you will be hopping out of the bucket at some point, specifically in a removal, do you wear your saddle and clip into the bucket (say with your lanyard), or do you have a harness that you use in the bucket and also climb with (from the bucket).
Reason I ask is that I subcontract here in CO, so most of the time I'm in a bucket its getting a ride to climb the tops while someone else trims from the bucket. Around here most removals can be done with a sixty foot bucket, and no need to hop out. The one contractor that I work for that owns a bucket has a petzl vario full harness that I use, when no climbing needed.
Hope this question makes sense. Just wanted to see what others are doing.
 
I believe the new ansi standards say that anytime you are in an aerial lift you need to be secured with a fall arrest lanyard (the one that rips the stitching away upon load). I would suggest using this device up to securing yourself to the tie in point in the tree and then unsnapping and leaving it in the bucket.
 
Yeah,
I use one of those bungee, breakaway lanyards with a harness (dorsal attachment?). What about with asaddle on, where would you clip it, to side D or in back somewhere. Just doesnt seem that sweet.
 
My saddle has a fall arrest shoulder strap set up, If im going to be doing work both in the bucket and hopping out, I use that. I have an austria duo
 
I am hoping to get the fall arrest suspenders for my glide saddle so I can use it for both. That way I can take it up in the bucket with me. Not to mention to use it for the footlocking in competition climbing.
 
When working from a bucket, a full body harness with a dorsal attachment and deceleration lanyard should be worn. The bucket deceleration lanyard should not be more than 6' long. If you are working alone with a bucket, a self rescue kit should be with you in the bucket in case you're ejected. Suspension trauma can result from hanging from a full body harness. If you are getting set in a tree from a bucket, the above should still be worn under your work positioning harness. Don't clip in to the side or front D rings. Should you get ejected, the force of the fall arrest can have enough force to break your back.
There are work positioning harnesses out there with dorsal attachments that are rated at 5,000 pounds.
 
Thanks guys,
Just the answers I was looking for! I am headed down south to do some removal work, which from what I understand is alot of bucket work, so I am figuring my options. I suspect that I will be hopping out to get the tops, so I will probably get a harness I can slip my saddle over.
I ordered a Treemagic a little bit ago, and not sure if there suspenders compatible that would would for fall protection.
 
When working from the bucket I often use my climbing rope attached to the boom in a DbRT just like I was tied into a tree. My Butterfly saddle is my harness. I figure this way if I'm ever ejected hopefully it will be easy to lower myself to the ground. It is also easy to adjust in length and I keep it as short as possible. Makes for a quick climb out too.
 
Here's ANSI's wording for Aerial device operations. Also note, "Approved point of attachment". I've been told that the attachment point for your lanyard should be on the boom, and not the bucket. With buckets being made of fiberglass, and attached with bolts, there is a chance that the bucket could disconnect from the boom. Whereas, if your anchor point/attachment point is on the boom, this greatly reduces your chance of going down with the bucket, should it disconnect from the boom.


5.2 Aerial Devices
5.2.2 Aerial devices shall be provided with an approved point of attachment on which to secure a full body harness with an energy-absorbing lanyard or body belt and lanyard, which shall be worn when aloft.



Mike
 
I use my climbing saddle in case I need to step out of the bucket and get in the tree. And I attach to the boom with a lanyard.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I like using a full saddle like MB said so you can get out if she doesn't go far enough

[/ QUOTE ]

You are going to have to fight the Big Orange to get that out of there though.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I ordered a Treemagic a little bit ago, and not sure if there suspenders compatible that would would for fall protection.

[/ QUOTE ]

not that i know of. i've been climbing in a treemagic for a year and half now and loving it, but i don't think there's anywhere you could attach fall protection. could be wrong though..
k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom