When you are working on trees at height are you in work positioning or fall arrest? This is a bit of a loaded question, but I think it will generate a worthwhile discussion.
Work Postitioning? or Fall Arrest?
- Thread starter mark_sauls
- Start date
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
Work Positioning. But in case I DID fall, it would be nice if I didn't make a crater.
Waldo
Participating member
- Location
- Portland, OR
work position all the way bro, i should never be in a situation where i will fall at least six feet before being caught by my rope.
Where does 6' fall come from? Does that mean sometimes it is OK to be 3' above tie in point? Do you use deceleration lanyards in you climbing systems?
- Location
- Sioux Falls, SD
Fall protection is when you are attached by the dorsal 'D'. That is when a deceleration lanyard is used. Typically this is when in your in a bucket truck, or in other industries when a fall may happen. But there is usually footing to walk around or work, like bridge workers or something. If they fall of the bridge, the protection will catch them. The thing to keep in mind is a fall into fall protection hurts and it should be as a last resort. Not something that could happen at any moment. The deceleration lanyards and harnesses are only designed to fallen into once or not at all before they are replaced.
Climbing trees on the other hand, there isn't always that sure footing. That is where work positioning comes in. We use ropes and lanyards to give us the points of contact we need to work. In work positioning situations you should never be subjected to a larger fall. Our equipment is designed to catch us in a short fall of a foot or so, but not any more. It is there to keep us in one spot. The 3' above the tie in point thing is not a good idea (subjecting to a 6' fall). This is because we attach our ropes to our waist and if a fall did occur, our ropes to not have enough stretch to slow us down and internal damage can occur. Unlike fall protection, in work positioning, our body is not in line like it would be on a dorsal attachment,
I hope I did that justice and helped with your questions...
Climbing trees on the other hand, there isn't always that sure footing. That is where work positioning comes in. We use ropes and lanyards to give us the points of contact we need to work. In work positioning situations you should never be subjected to a larger fall. Our equipment is designed to catch us in a short fall of a foot or so, but not any more. It is there to keep us in one spot. The 3' above the tie in point thing is not a good idea (subjecting to a 6' fall). This is because we attach our ropes to our waist and if a fall did occur, our ropes to not have enough stretch to slow us down and internal damage can occur. Unlike fall protection, in work positioning, our body is not in line like it would be on a dorsal attachment,
I hope I did that justice and helped with your questions...
Norm_Hall
New member
- Location
- Wauconda, (Chicago),IL,USA
Sam, I think you meant to say "Fall arrest..." instead of "Fall protection..."? in your opening sentence.
Waldo
Participating member
- Location
- Portland, OR
Mark, six feet was an arbitrary number that i came up with, but if i am standing three feet above my tie-in, i have to fall six feet before my rope catches me. When ascending DDrt, much of the literature i have read says you should tend your slack when it get to your knee, which is about three feet of slack for me.
- Location
- Sioux Falls, SD
Thanks Norm for the correction. I tend to do that every now and then
Go by what I mean not what I say/write...
Go by what I mean not what I say/write...
