Is solo climbing ever acceptable?

[Tom10]

But you make it sound like they won't pay out for an injury to the climber, which they won't under any circumstances, as thats not what PL is for.

 

When I say ''accident'' I mean any accident. Not an injury to the climber himself as this, as you rightly say, wouldnt be covered by PL.

 

But, if a solo climber had an accident that would of been prevented by having a qualified rescuer / groundsman I doubt they would pay out.

[skyhuck]

When I say ''accident'' I mean any accident. Not an injury to the climber himself as this, as you rightly say, wouldnt be covered by PL.

 

But, if a solo climber had an accident that would of been prevented by having a qualified rescuer / groundsman I doubt they would pay out.

 

How would they know.

[Tom10]

How would they know.

 

Splitting hairs.

 

I just mean, the long and short of it is any insurance company double check the situation when the accident happened.

 

As a climber you should have someone on site with the ticket and equipment to rescue (and be stated as such on a risk assessment.)

 

As a scenario, I faint whilst climbing and fall straight through someones conservatory. Do you not think my insurer would question whether someone was there to prevent the accident as there should of been?

 

I guess my point on a whole is be careful

[ClimbingNev]

When does a hedge become a tree or a tree a hedge? I only ask because the other day I agreed to dismantle/remove a large multi-stemed Lelandii for a customer. My regular climber didn't get back to me in time for a quote I did and (with only a small time window between jobs) I ended up doing the removal/felling and topping with the help of the customer who acted as a groundie of sorts (he's actually a family friend).

The real question (at last!) is, at what point do you other tree surgeons feel the need for a second climber for aeriel rescue? Isn't Lellandi just a hybridised hedging plant and not (necessarily) so much a tree?

Who wants to turn this kind of 'bread and butter' work down because your oppo is unavailable that day?

What's the Public-Liabilty feel about this anyone??

 

In my eyes it is pure and simple. If you are climbing above a height that you know to be high enough to warrant a harness, and you are being employed by somebody, then you absolutly must have a groundsman who is qualified (for their sake, from a manslaughter and pure guilt point of view) and competent (for your sake) to get you down if the s*** hits the fan! If your on your own and you are answerable to nobody but yourself........it is your call. I am a big believer in that men know their own limits. Most normal lads in the industry know when it is time to say " yeh, think I best have a groundsman here!" If your oppo aint available and you can't do it without him you won't. If your up there thinking "this is a bit daft!" then you know the answer to your question!

Am I right??

[skyhuck]

Splitting hairs.

 

I just mean, the long and short of it is any insurance company double check the situation when the accident happened.

 

As a climber you should have someone on site with the ticket and equipment to rescue (and be stated as such on a risk assessment.)

 

As a scenario, I faint whilst climbing and fall straight through someones conservatory. Do you not think my insurer would question whether someone was there to prevent the accident as there should of been?

 

I guess my point on a whole is be careful

 

How would a second climber prevent that??

 

Why would you not be tide in???

[Tom10]

How would a second climber prevent that??

 

Why would you not be tide in???

 

Buddy, its half 10 and I really cant think of every scenario that could possibly happen.

 

If climbing alone you are not conforming to work at height regulations. If your not conforming to industry regulations your not going to be covered by insurance policies in some way or another.

 

You may well get away with it if you had to claim, but you might not and they sure would ask for the details surrounding the accident and probably your risk assessment, and with only one person on it and he's climbing its not looking good is it?

 

Its fact and the same across all industries as well as vehicles etc.

 

Everyone climbs alone at some point, commercially or recreationally. Just apply a good dose of common sense.

[skyhuck]

Climbing alone is not a good idea, I can think of many reasons not to, but insurance would not be top of my list.

[Tom10]

Climbing alone is not a good idea, I can think of many reasons not to, but insurance would not be top of my list.

 

Agreed. Definitively more important reasons than insurance not to be climbing alone.

 

But as the OP mentioned insurance I thought it worth mentioning that these companies don't pay out because you ask them nicely.

 

They will investigate paperwork and Risk Assessments and if everything is not in line, will argue the toss. Not conforming to standard industry regulations is certainly not in line and certainly a good reasons for them to question your claim.

 

Stay safe.

[tuttle]

'Why? I came into this game for the action, the excitement. Go anywhere, travel light, get in, get out, wherever there's trouble, a man alone. Now they got the whole country sectioned off, you can't make a move without a form'

 

[Mark Bolam]

There is so much bollocks talked about insurance it's unreal.