Dangers of top roping

[Paul Smith]

Just watched it again with the laptop on its side, you're right, I hadn't looked closely enough, the groundie does let it go before the butt is clear, enough that when the butt drops off it causes the piece to swing. The top appears to move towards the camera thus meaning that when the butt comes free it is whipped right round the back of the stem, hitting the climber. In that situation where the rigging point is low in relation to the top of the lump, I would have either put a shallow gob aimed towards the pulley and used the hobbs to pull the tip in till it was up against the other stem. Then sever the hinge and it swings away from yours the groundie lets it run. Or done the same with a step cut, with a shallow cut on the side of the pulley and the main cut coming all the way through the back.

 

+1, Simple job for the GRCS! I use that method a lot. Why drop when you can lift? Less shock more control.

[Will Ayers]

well i just turned my monitor on its side and although i agree the groundy should of let it go, the climber should have seen from its trajectory that he was in the line of fire! i make a point of watching bits to the floor, or atleast till they are clear of me and have completed any swinging that might affect me! that said, it was a huge piece for a port wrap, not sure a tag line woulda done much to a bit that size unless it was tied off on something?

[Will Ayers]

watched it few times, read all the above.

 

groundy was not on fire, and working at snails pace, climber taking off more than he can chew.

 

great post and nice to see the mistake.

 

the wraps were an easy rapid drop.

 

i have worked out now that my power kiting/single line kite experience has been invaluble in releasing the line and giving subtle control to drops - maybe trainee groundies should do some practice with 9ft diamond kite in a 15mph wind - sending it out 200ft.

 

i find going rock climbing and belaying climbing partners indoors and out helps with friction management, thats what its all about!

 

at college we took ages rigging bits off to get a feel for it, quite often, groundies are just thrown in at the deepend. last week i had a rigging job where the groundy had never used a portawrap, i was uber slow on the job but got it done in time and safely.

[Taupotreeman]

Sorry if this has already been covered but I haven't had time to read the whole thread.

 

Question is; how much experience the groundy had, how much experience the climber had. Was this maybe one of the first times the groundy had been on a large dismantle job like this and if so, was his training adequate for the situation. were clear instructions given or discussed beforehand as to what the job process was and how the groundy was to react should something go wrong. Sounds like common sense but imagine being a newby on a job like that and having very little understanding of weights, dynamics, movements etc. Imagine then, worst case scenario, the climber goes hell for leather without telling his groundy what to expect. I've seen it before, almost the same kind of thing, when a big chunk of gum was supposed to be lowered (and let run freely to the floor) but too many wraps around the lowering device meant the wood dropped and swung back in to the tree knocking the climber off his spikes. The cause was insufficient experience on the groundies part and a lack of pre job planning and explanation on the climbers part. Result? The groundy had more training and was allocated to a crew with a less technical job allocation to gain more experience. The climber got a new pair of undies and a more experienced groundy.

[Will Ayers]

i have just read the comments on youtube, the groundie was asking for bigger chunks and the climber was cautious but gave in, he said it did hurt alot!

 

well serves him right then!

 

our motto is go big or go home but there are limits!

[Taupotreeman]

i have just read the comments on youtube, the groundie was asking for bigger chunks and the climber was cautious but gave in, he said it did hurt alot!

 

The climber should know better. He's the boss and it's his neck on the block. I should have read the comments before posting my last comment.

[John Shutler]

climber taking off more than he can chew.

.

 

why did the climber take off more than he can chew? :confused1:nothing failed, it was down to the groundie not working the ropes corectly

[Taupotreeman]

No idea what CS41 entails. Anyone enlighten me?

[morten]

Another thing for me is I never liked the portawrap you can never get enough tension on the rope for top roping far better with a bollard or just chug the stem down.

 

I don't agree. A fiddle block and a prussik will allow you to put 400 kg of tensioning on the lowering rope, which is ample for most uses.

[felixthelogchopper]

Just watched it again, there are not too many wraps, the groundie starts dropping it no problem,but after its hit the climber twice.

 

Fair one