Petzl ASAP or DMM Catch in the tree

[john meehan]

Hi guys I’m currently working in the national grid contract for fountains and due to a few to many accidents, we all have had to change our climbing techniques to having two points of attachment at all times.

 

This basically turns into having two ropes at all times. Now in some trees two normal set up works a treat but in certain situations, removals, small trees etc it can be a bit of a pain and two ropes running from the same anchor isn’t ideal.

 

I’ve been thinking maybe it would be possible to incorporate a back up device on a single line like the rope access people do. Which would then just trail around the tree giving you the all important second anchor at all times.

 

Really just wondering if anybody has any experience with the different devices? Also if they would work in the way I am imagining, with out work being quite different to the normal function.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[thunderdrum]

many years ago used to use single rope with spliced eyes at both ends and two prussic loops to move about a tree this was with Leicester cc so you  had two points of attachments

[john meehan]

The first guy I worked for years ago taught me like that. I’ve seen a few people throw stuff into the loop created and get in a mess.

It’s that two systems I’m trying to avoid just for certain situations really.

Cheers man

[Steve Bullman]

Why has it turned into using 2 ropes?

[Steve Bullman]

2 points of attachement even if not cutting? That’s ludicrous and unworkable 

[Guest]

I’ve had to do it on Network rail. Two anchors too two SRT lines. Climbing on one and the other as back up. I just used an auto block. Bit OTT for me. All the years in the RM in the mountains with commando units we hardly had any accidents and no deaths on single rope.

[TIMON]

H&S reactionary ‘box ticking’ . Sounds like someone with minimal hands on experience has been put under pressure to show that they have mitigated the risk factor on the RAMS. Surely careful analysis of the actual accidents and practical steps taken to prevent further incidents by way of in-house training would be a better way of keeping the workforce safe.
I can understand the pressure to produce safer systems of work after accidents, but these kind of knee-jerk measures that tend to get implemented rarely tackle the real issues. If someone has cut their line while in a tree and taken a fall they are doing something wrong.
It would be interesting to know if Fountains are doing anything to look at the real reasons why climbing lines are getting cut in the first place.
Hope the climbers are ok.
Sorry I can’t help with any advice on the best back up line.

[john meehan]

2 points of attachement even if not cutting? That’s ludicrous and unworkable 

Yeah two attachment points at all times, it seems pretty over kill, you have to start at the bottom of the tree with two anchors. It’s workable but there is a time factor and it’s a pain at times.

Moving around a big tree it’s pretty good but on smaller stuff or removal the other rope can get in the way.

[john meehan]

I’ve had to do it on Network rail. Two anchors too two SRT lines. Climbing on one and the other as back up. I just used an auto block. Bit OTT for me. All the years in the RM in the mountains with commando units we hardly had any accidents and no deaths on single rope.

I’ve been thinking about two srt lines,
I’ve stopped using srt at the min because we can’t use a throw line and once I’d climbed up double rope I tend to stick with it.

What’s an auto block? Is that like the ASAP type thing?

Cheers mate

[monkeybusiness]

I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the falls have been down to weak regrowth attachment points failing. Fountains constantly revisit the same trees again and again and again and then only cut the smallest amount the contract will allow off to do the work as cheaply as possible. They should be aiming to fell and subsequently replace more trees - it would be safer than sending climbers back up badly topped/sided carbuncles year after year IMO, no matter how many times the oppos are tied in.