Petzl Shunt

Fairfield

Fairfield

Participating member
Location
Bucks County pa USA
Not sure if there is any guys that do industrial rope access on here as well. Was looking to see what you may have thought about switching to, or have already due to the whole Shunt fall out. By the way, I still want my Shunt back!!!! Oh, I am going with the ASAP now, well until im told that their is some major safety issue with this as well......
 
Well, to sum it up. Petzl and IRATA are now stating that the use of a Shunt as a backup fall protection device is not safe anymore. They state that a person will unintentionaly not let go of the cord when descending and a main line failuar happens. Thus causing a futher fall.

Reason I dont like this is this: Petzl use to state that the Shunt was safe for this practice as long as there was proper training by someone. The main thing to know when using it was how to place the descending cord between your fingers and to not have a cord larger then 5mm. The Shunt has been used for a while now with a very safe record. A few climbers come along and dont use it the right way and now a whole indusrty is for the most part scrambaling to stay in a safe new work practice.

Petzl Shunt= $60
Peztl ASAP= $200 and $35 for the lanyard that has to be used with it.
 
Yeah well that seems to be the case with everything right? The minority ruin it for the majority.

Check out DBI Sala, there were also some cheaper models we used but I cannot think of the names...

What type or RA work do you do? I was a tower guy for a bit of time.
 
Right now I am working at a chemical company doing there rescue stuff, but I am also doing work on the side. Odds and ends stuff, high dusting, window cleaning ect... what ever is really asked that is hard to reach really. Nothing amazing.
 
The shunt is a nice peace of equipment and with the proper training and understandig of its working I really don't see a problem. Its pretty sad that even Petzl says it's not safe anymore as a backup device......the few climbers that screwed up spoiled it for all the rest that are working on a shunt with safe and good practice. To bad...but hey I still use mine every now and then and it works perfectly every time.

I hope the industy won't go along this path they took the last year and forbid everything that can create an unsafe situation cause of climbers screwing up. Climbing gear is as safe as its operator and doesn't think for itself. Use it wise and know what to use in every situation to go for the maximum safety and efficiency ;-)
 
The Rocker seemed nice to, and I have used Kongs backup (I know ,I know Kong is a bad word in here). There are a few nice devices out there. My main thing that I like to keep in mind is when making a rescue having equipment that will not kill my rope if shock loaded. Although I dont see in writing where Petzl says the ASAP or the Shunt is safe for two person loads, I have seen plenty of testing done that shows when used right it works safely. By safely I mean will stop my fall in a short disatance without desheathing the rope (or breaking it).
 
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