Climbing out of a bucket

I recall reading somewhere that the lanyard used with a body belt must be short enough to prevent you from falling out of the bucket in the first place. The ANSI Z standards seem to differentiate between the "energy-absorbing lanyard" worn with a full body harness and the "lanyard" worn with the body belt, which might imply the short, fall-preventing lanyard.
 
--or-- you could agree with some of my co-workers and not wear anything because "I would rather take the fall than have my back broken by the body belt. Didn't you ever see the videos?"

I rock the full-body fall arrest 95% of the time, 5% body belt. Never get out of the bucket without a rope... duh
 
I did it this week. Faced with the choice of making ruts to finish the job or use the bucket to reach a high TIP climb to reach the limbs over the house. I was wearing a PETZL nov bad croll fast--which is fine for climbing (see cover of latest Arborist News). Just stay tied into the boom until the climbing system is set up and tied into. (I have a friction hitch and climging line all prerigged in a rope bag that make the transition fast and smooth) It was the easiest, fastest, safest most cost effective way to do this job. It feels good to get out of that bucket and move freely around in the tree, it also feels good to have a "free ride" to the TIP. The bucket is just used for the ascent and decent. The ground person turned off the bucket as the climbing was done and restarted it at after the climbing was complete. No one is ever going to wear two harnesses. I also find the sternal attachment point useful when riding the ball on the crane. After tying in above the ball with a FS and climging line, I use a lanyard to go from the hook to the sternal attachment point and cynch it up...its so comfortable you can just lay back an have a quick nap.
 
in louisiana you do not need anything while you are in a bucket. my friend just went to a osha meeting for his state contractor license. an offshore oil safety guy told the osha guy he was wrong and showed him with his own book. the bucket is attached to the truck and not removable, so it means the bucket has a safety rail with at least 36in. height. the osha guy didn't even know his own rules. when the oil guy showed the osha guy in writting he did not know what to say. can you imagine how many tickets were written to people that were afraid to fight the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
i would definitely use a full body harness cause i just got ripped out of the bucket from 50' and if i had just a waist harness i would have had more serious injuries then what i walked away with.
 
You have two options.

1: Do what Tom D said and if you take a fall your going to have the energy absorbing lanyard on. Better choice in my eyes but hey what do I know.

2: Don't wear it and if you do fall out be prepared to have some serious hurt coming to ya. I'm not sure what kind of forces your talking about but being stopped abruptly doesn't sound like fun.

I usually pick 2 and just try to not fall out. Its not the best idea but its better than not having anything on at all.

I try and go the safe route all the time but over the course of a day you lose a lot of time. If I was a training instructor trust me I would advocate the first option but its minor in my eyes but then again, minor is what catches up to you and gets you seriously hurt.
 
Oh...of course...do as you please. Put aside for a while any regulations and look at what system makes the most sense and is most likely to get you home walking every day.

Ask your dependants...wife/kids/friends/family...if they will 'let' you be in the bucket without a harness or one that is less than adequate. They will be the ones who set the rules, not the government.

What would they say?
 
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Ask your dependants...wife/kids/friends/family...if they will 'let' you be in the bucket without a harness or one that is less than adequate. They will be the ones who set the rules, not the government.

What would they say?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the best way to put it. Thanks Tom I'll remember than when I'm trying to get a safety point across.

Option 1 also depends on the fall harness you have some don't fit well if at all over another saddle. I am preparing to out fit my ergo with a shock absorber.
 
Is there any mention in the ANSI or OSHA standards that specifically says you cannot climb out of the bucket if secured to the tree?

jp
grin.gif
 
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