Hello America,
My thinking is that a short one liner isn’t going to fit the bill here and a more detailed and balanced response is required, taking up my and your valuable time. Time Mike obviously has time to waste so I apologise now for the length of my post.
Short background: a year or so ago Mike wanted to be our technical rigging advisor and demonstrator for Fletcher Stewart, having asked a few questions of peers within the industry, it was clear to us that he was not a suitable candidate. Since we declined his kind offer he has seen fit to disrepute anything Fletcher Stewart say, do, make or sell. Draw your own conclusions from this ladies and gentlemen.
I am the EX “competent” arborist working for Fletcher Stewart to whom Mike refers. Unlike Mike I'm 42 with 20 years in the associated industry and I am not arrogant enough to claim to be totally “competent” at everything. I have never proclaimed to be the best climber or contractor I’m just an arborist and as such I get things wrong some times. I don’t know about you guys but I learn something new every week, month or year and industry climbing techniques, training and law changes all the time.
At 25? it’s a pity Mike has seen fit to be so antagonistic and outspoken within the industry. I am sure that as his experience grows he would have been asked to become more involved. I have found demanding respect doesn’t work you have to earn it.
I think Plato is quoted as saying “As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest blabbers”
Mikes outspoken manner and outlandish opinions on UK forum Arbtalk has lead to being banned, again it’s a pity he can’t curb his enthusiasm and opinions or he would still be participating and learning himself.
Having said all this Mike is correct in that I may have made a couple of mistakes in our sales catalogue that may not represent current best UK practice however this doesn't mean the products shown are unsafe to use (A slanderous suggestion Mike and one you should be very careful of pursuing). It would have been nice if you had picked up the phone and let us know so we could have corrected these in latter issues printed. It is at the end of the day my fault and I should have had the pictures peer reviewed by my betters before they went to press.
However as Mike also points out this is only a sales brochure not a training manual and arborist’s using our equipment should be trained and qualified in their use. Luckily for me it’s also a European requirement that CE marked products are sold with user guide and technical information, within which it usually states that users should be trained and qualified.
As for CE products it’s my job and duty to promote and guide our retailers on correctly constructed and tested equipment. I have to explain to our retailers that selling non CE marked PPE to climbers for industrial use in the European market is illegal.
As one of Europe’s largest distributer’s of arborist equipment and a manufacturer in their own right Fletcher Stewart need to ensure they comply with European laws and regulations. In the debate with Mike who obviously isn’t aware of the Department of Trade and Industry (D.T.I) requirements (feather?) which clearly define what we and our retailers can and cannot supply.
Please find below a link to the DTI’s Guidance notes on Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002
DTI PPE Guidance Notes.
It states very clearly in section 2. That for the free movement and sale of goods they are required to hold a CE and can therefore be freely sold within the European market. Section 7 states that it is the responsibility of the importer to ensure compliance. The 2002 regulations place the duty on any responsible person who places PPE on the market to comply with certain requirements as defined in the regulations.
The last paragraph in section 7 All suppliers i.e. wholesalers, distributors, retailers etc. , in the course of a business have a statutory duty to ensure that the equipment that they supply satisfies the safety requirements of Schedule 2 of the Regulations and bears a CE mark.
Section 13.3 in short, states that illegally supplying non-CE marked PPE or CE marked PPE which when properly maintained and used for its intended purpose could compromise the safety of individual’s can lead the supplier being fined up to £5,000 (approximately $8,000) or imprisoned.
Can this need to be any clearer Mike?
In recommending my retailers do not sell Non CE marked products I am protecting their interests and the safety of the climbers buying equipment from them.
European CE marked Climbing equipment comes under category three personal protective equipment or “equipment protecting the climber against mortal danger or serious and irreversible harm”. CE testing ensures that any products manufactured within this category are “independently” tested on an annual basis.
Mike like several other European “climbers”, you don’t feel the rules apply. You are encouraging people to do is to configure and construct category three climbing equipment at home. I freely admit to openly stand against this as a dangerous and irresponsible attitude. That will eventually lead to a fatality.
In the last twelve months I have heard of two instances where hand splices produced by a main UK “competent” and apparently “self regulating” hand slicer have failed one on climbing rope one on rigging rope (feather?). Luckily in both occasions nobody was injured. Personally I feel totally vindicated in recommending to any European climber that they should be buying safely constructed and tested ropes.
You reference a splicing day that is being run in the UK I know several competent and experienced climbers who have attended this day who still say they don’t trust their own splices. UK climbers are allowed to splice for themselves for their own use but it scares the hell out of me that there simply isn’t the training or guidance to teach them to do this correctly and safely.
Retailers or company staff hand splicing for others should be aware of the consequences involved in this activity and climbers should be aware of the risk’s they are taking when purchasing non CE marked products. If an accident occurs and they are crippled it may invalidate their insurance.
My stance on this issue alone has lost me people I once called friends. I am disappointed that some of my peers are tolerating or at worse like you Mike encouraging this sort of activity. I may be wrong in your eyes but if I can save just one climber from injury I am going to continue my campaign to promote the use of CE products.
Like Steve I am not really interested in wasting any more of my life in this debate with Mike and will not be responding to any more of his foolish antagonisms. Mike you really need to get out more and listen to what other people in the industry have to say.
I want to keep people “safe” climbing not clinging to “feathers and foolishness“!
Nick
