Recall Notice: Petzl ZIGZAG

Petzl

Petzl

Location
Utah
This information is complementary to and supersedes the Safety Alert issued
April 19, 2013

Summary of the facts:

On Friday, April 12, Petzl was informed of an accidental fall in a training center in Germany. This fall was related to a failure of the rope end attachment hole of the Petzl ZIGZAG mechanical Prusik.
We have since been informed of another identical failure.

These failures were the result of a particular configuration of a cantilevered and off-axis loaded upper carabiner (see photo).

Petzl believes that this incorrect positioning of the connector could inadvertently occur during normal use with the potential for serious injury or death.

Continued use of the ZIGZAG poses a risk of serious injury or death.


Petzl Action:

Petzl has decided to immediately recall all ZIGZAGs.
As a measure of precaution, we ask that you:
- Immediately stop using the ZIGZAG
- Contact Petzl America After Sales and Service: zigzagrecall@petzl.com -or- (877) 807-3805 to initiate the return process
- Return the ZIGZAG to Petzl America

Petzl America will pay for all shipping costs.

You can then choose from the following options:
- Credit for other Petzl products (equal to the retail price of the ZIGZAG + 30%)
- A complete refund of the purchase price

For more information about this recall:
- Consult the ZIGZAG recall FAQ (see below for link to download the original recall document and FAQ in PDF format)
- Contact Petzl America: zigzagrecall@petzl.com -or- (877) 807-3805

A new version of the ZIGZAG is currently being developed and will be available in January 2014.

We are fully aware of the inconvenience caused by this issue. Please accept our full apologies. Thank you for your continued trust.

Click here to download a PDF of the Recall Notice and FAQ concernting the ZIGZAG mechanical Prusik
 

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These failures were the result of a particular configuration of a cantilevered and off-axis loaded upper carabiner (see photo).

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Where is the photo? Thanks,

Tom
 
Sorry, It is now attached to the above post.

Please click the link at the bottom of the post to view and download the original PDF document which includes the image and FAQ.
 
A company that does things right. Petzl is minimizing customer pain and is wise enough to realize how to limit their own. One thing that impresses me is that they always provide a date. Whether it be for an analysis or product update.
 
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Way to go Petzl. Lovin' it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I really gotta wonder howe much youd be 'lovin it' if it were your ZigZag that failed at 60-70'.
Somehow I doubt youd be saying much of anything, ever again, had your ZigZiag failed at 60-70'.
Can we please try not too appear so eager for new doodads that are shiney and new, as to discount our own or other cimbers safety.
People are taking this too light.....like bummer dude, oh well Petlz messed but then they fessed up, its all good now.
I mentioned this on AT, but if I had bought a ZZ I would be hugely pissed right now, I dont relly care how they handle it, they screwed up huge.
Monumentally HUGE.
They released a deadly piece of PPE to thousands.
So sorry if I dont have a sympathy card for Petzl, how they handle this debacle isnt really what concerns me, its how they handled the testing and R&D of the ZigZag, thats what I find troublesome.
I would think people would be more comcerned about that.
Apparently though if you release a warm and fuzzy press release, its all good.
But Id like to know how the largest manufacturer in the world of high angle PPE let something like this happen ?
 
I am a huge supporter of Petzl. Most of my carabiners are Petzl, all of my harnesses are Petzl, helmets, pulleys, the list goes on. I for one am not happy with Petzl. I've done many climbs on the Zig Zag and have noticed the tendency for the cross loading to occur but I didn't think much of it. What bothers me a lot is thinking about taking one of my friends up in a tree for her first climb and I had her on the Zig Zag. I thought it was perfectly safe especially if Petzl put it on the market.

I am glad Petzl is stepping up to the plate to own up to their mistake, but as others have said, this mistake should have never happened. Especially with a company this large and well funded.
 
I think this is a prime example of how load ratings and government approvals can lead us away from the end game of personal evaluation and responsibility. It is an easy error to make and certainly DOES NOT diminish from the error others or a company can make. Every time an individual puts a rope over a branch they are evaluating the safety of such, it is easy with some "approval" to move away from that.
Kudos to Petzl for being a responsible corporation and admitting an error was made. Behind every "approval", I think there is just "some guy" that says, "looks good to me", I should take it from there.
 
The fanboys make me sick. 'Good job!!' :)

I have always liked Petzl things but I find it hard to believe that noone considered the possibility of the crossloading. Maybe one or two less full page adds and a few more climbers offering input would have been in order.

Giving them kudos for recalling is silly, liability wise its the only choice they had.
 
Other companies have NOT stepped up to take responsibility for mistakes. Products have been left on the market putting climbers in danger for years because profits were more important.

Are you going to stop flying in Boeing aircraft because of the battery failures in the DreamLiner? Did you stop driving Chevy's because they made Corvairs...Fords because of explodo Pintos?

Oh...which company continued to use the wrong fibers for harness bridges after failures? No mass recall or stop-use notifications went out. They did NOT step up!
 
This chain of events started with a flawed design, and continued into the testing stage which was deficient. Several screw ups occurred here, not just one. Several departments failed, and press releases and damage control efforts don't make me feel warm and fuzzy.
Petzl is only doing what they have to do, no more, and no less.
Different company reactions to product failures by Kong and Petzl, but as a potential victim, it is little comfort that one might cover my med bills and the other won't. Point being that this should have never, never happened in the first place. Am less than enthralled with Petzl for dropping the ball.
Maybe I will return my ZigZag. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll take it apart and make some modifications to make it safer. Not sure what I'm gonna do at this point.
 
Let's not forget cleaning up after spilling your oil. Or paying people back after stealing their money.
 
Now that I understand the flaw it's so fundamental I can hardly believe it. Didn't they look for the weak link during their load rating? An outstanding job of releasing info and taking action on a global level. They got the word out. Looking forward to the new and improved ZigZag hopefully it isn't combustion rapide and more facile a' rouler..
 
[ QUOTE ]
Are you going to stop flying in Boeing aircraft because of the battery failures in the DreamLiner? Did you stop driving Chevy's because they made Corvairs...Fords because of explodo Pintos!

[/ QUOTE ]

Petzl isn't the only game in town. They have an opportunity to "get their head right" (Warden to Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke), but all the evidence I see vis a vis their product line leads me to believe that their R&D Dept is smitten with the notion that smaller and lighter is the way to go.
 
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Maybe I will return my ZigZag. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll take it apart and make some modifications to make it safer. Not sure what I'm gonna do at this point.

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Sounds like a horrible idea!
 
[ QUOTE ]
...like bummer dude, oh well Petlz messed but then they fessed up, its all good now.
I mentioned this on AT, but if I had bought a ZZ I would be hugely pissed right now, I dont relly care how they handle it, they screwed up huge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, how they handle it is the only thing that matters. That includes reproducing the failure, publicizing it, recalling the device, redesigning it, learning from the mistake, and possibly compensating for injury.
It's obvious they screwed up. I don't think anyone is saying "it's all good now".
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...like bummer dude, oh well Petlz messed but then they fessed up, its all good now.
I mentioned this on AT, but if I had bought a ZZ I would be hugely pissed right now, I dont relly care how they handle it, they screwed up huge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, how they handle it is the only thing that matters. That includes reproducing the failure, publicizing it, recalling the device, redesigning it, learning from the mistake, and possibly compensating for injury.
It's obvious they screwed up. I don't think anyone is saying "it's all good now".

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummmm are you serious....
"Way to go Petzl. Lovin' it.',
Im afraid, is pretty much exactly saying that.
Sorry
shocked.gif

And as far as how they handle the accident being the only thing that matters.....to that Ill just say.....ummmmmm.....OK.
No real point in arguing with that logic, so I'll refrain.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...like bummer dude, oh well Petlz messed but then they fessed up, its all good now.
I mentioned this on AT, but if I had bought a ZZ I would be hugely pissed right now, I dont relly care how they handle it, they screwed up huge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, how they handle it is the only thing that matters. That includes reproducing the failure, publicizing it, recalling the device, redesigning it, learning from the mistake, and possibly compensating for injury.
It's obvious they screwed up. I don't think anyone is saying "it's all good now".

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummmm are you serious....
"Way to go Petzl. Lovin' it.',
Im afraid, is pretty much exactly saying that.
Sorry
shocked.gif

And as far as how they handle the accident being the only thing that matters.....to that Ill just say.....ummmmmm.....OK.
No real point in arguing with that logic, so I'll refrain.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was simply giving support behind Petzl for coming out and supporting their product. I would have been just liking it if I wasn't so disappointed by the norm. I stand behind my product therefore I remain down here. To think other guys are up there cause they flee from their mistakes is sucking.
 
I would like to know more details about the accident. Who was it, their experience, the context. I think it's great that this flaw was discovered but It sounds a bit like the guy who broke it may have been experimenting with how to bust the thing.
 
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