Splicing competence.

[BenR]

Without getting into the debate around hand splicing and all of the legislation.

 

I have a one question that I am hoping someone can shed some light on.

 

Are we any closer to having some sort of NPTC unit or other test that shows competency for splicing so that there is a clear standard to meet?

[treemeup]

I would think splicing comes under loler legislation

[BenR]

Tbh I don't really know what legislation it comes under and that is not what I am asking about.

 

My question is: Are we any closer to having some sort of NPTC unit or other test that shows competency for splicing so that there is a clear standard to meet?

[BenR]

BUMP, Could any magic Mods that may potentially see this change the title to Splicing Competence please? It might attract a few more of the splicing types.. I really should have thought about this at the time. Ah well.

[Craig Johnson]

get in touch with noddy from treeworker, he has been working away on this for quite some time.

[BenR]

Cheers Judge. Just wondered if any splicers out there would be prepared to do some sort of splicing symposium/group thing like they are doing in the states at the moment. We need to get together and force the legislators to sort all of the jargon around splicing out!

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Whilst resulting in the same outcome, I think the issue is the 'CE' marking requirement rather than the competence of the splicer....altho clearly the two things are intrinsically linked.

 

The LOLER ACOP (sorry, Approved Code of Practice, the quasi-legal document whihc gives a minimum interpretation of the regulations) requires all equipment used for lifting to be "suitable and sufficiently strong for the task involved" and thi sis where the 'CE' marking gives evidence of testing and a min. breaking strain etc.

 

With a hand developed splice, whilst we've all used them for years, don't necessarily meet the requirements.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[BenR]

So is there definitive proof that a factory made splice is stronger than a hand made splice?

 

A hand splice is stronger than any knot, So it is sufficiently strong and suitable for the task, assuming it is made correctly.

 

I personally think that a qualification in splicing would solve a lot of issues. Once a splice is made correctly it is impossible to make it go wrong bar cutting it. Every time a knot is tied there is some amount of variation involved. Yet it is perfectly acceptable to use a knot. Go figure...

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

So is there definitive proof that a factory made splice is stronger than a hand made splice?

 

A hand splice is stronger than any knot, So it is sufficiently strong and suitable for the task, assuming it is made correctly.

 

I personally think that a qualification in splicing would solve a lot of issues. Once a splice is made correctly it is impossible to make it go wrong bar cutting it. Every time a knot is tied there is some amount of variation involved. Yet it is perfectly acceptable to use a knot. Go figure...

 

I'm sure that Steve Hewitt of NPTC would be most interested in developing something BUT I still think the issue would be the 'CE' business.

 

I'm sure Noddy has addressed this, and indeed achioeved it...or some kind of eqiuvalency.

 

Paul

[BenR]

Thanks for the input Paul, It is always useful to see both ends of the arguement.

 

But you can't CE a knot can you? And in a way, although it does not alter the structure of the rope, it does change the characteristics of the rope as a result of the bend radius etc..

 

It just irritates me when something that can do the job better than a knot is made to seem less suitable as a result of paper-pushing litigation and jargon. I'm lucky to not have to comply with any of that! ...YET.