Self Rescue

[David Humphries]

As far as risk assessment goes and controlling risk, the best thing I can think of is to make sure the groundsman knows if anything happens he'll need to get hold of the fire rescue service and the ambulance very quickly - if in doubt, 999. Grid reference and/or address always on risk assessment as well as the grid reference of any accesspoints. On some of our paperwork we have even identified suitable helicopter landing sites as an extra precaution.

 

 

If you have a throw line or even another climbing line set up in the tree ready to go.... do you get any problems with branches falling on it, tangling etc??

 

 

 

If the climber is unconcious & upside down, they will likely perish before emergency rescue teams get on site.

 

 

As part of pre job assesment, groundies & climber talk around secondary line placement & associated hazards.

This may lead to no second line, with replanning involved.

 

 

 

 

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[janey]

Interesting question.

 

When i was climbing, i was largely self reliant. But now i am in the position where i have to monitor my Contractors, i would never allow the same thing. As part of their work contract, no lone working is allowed and at least one of the groundstaff has to have their rescue tickets and a full climbing system.

 

Ironic, innit

[Rod]

i cant believe what i have just read

 

i never climb or allow any one to climb with out a second climber/rescuer

 

as for useing extra cost as a justification for this is unaceptable health and safety rules should never be ignored like this imo

 

im not saying that i think i will need rescuing or that they could get there quick enough but it is very bad for our industry to not follow its own Hs guidelines

[skyhuck]

I wonder how many of the "climbing groundies" would be up to the task!!!

 

HOW OFTEN is the guy with the ticket just there so the legislation is complied with???

[Highland Forestry]

When I did my climbing tickets, we were actually shown how to get a groundsman to rig up a rescue set-up which allows the groundsman to rescue the climber from the ground..

It's not a fail safe though, it basically relys on another tree somewhere on the ground where the groundsman attaches a strop and a pulley and runs the climbers main line through the pulley and a prussik. The climber then loosen off his prussik whilst descending and the groundsman controls the descent.

 

Personally, apart from pole rescue which is alot more difficult, especially with spikes, I'm pretty confident that most climbers can get down from any tree pretty damned quick. If the climber is unable to get down from the tree under his own steam, he most likley requires immediate emergency response in any case.

[David Humphries]

I wonder how many of the "climbing groundies" would be up to the task!!!

 

HOW OFTEN is the guy with the ticket just there so the legislation is complied with???

 

This is a very valid point Dave.

 

The Certificate of Competance to Climb Trees & Perform Aerial Rescue, should only be awarded on successful completion of the assessment and on Mentor observed climbing hours.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Mesterh]

i cant believe what i have just read

 

i never climb or allow any one to climb with out a second climber/rescuer

 

as for useing extra cost as a justification for this is unaceptable health and safety rules should never be ignored like this imo

 

im not saying that i think i will need rescuing or that they could get there quick enough but it is very bad for our industry to not follow its own Hs guidelines

 

Just think of it like not wearing your seatbelt in the truck, its a victimless crime, just like punching someone in the dark

 

 

I doubt there are many true groundies up to the task of rescuing an injured climber,Its difficult enough for an experienced climber to do it quick and correct under pressure.

[josharb87]

imo its jumping through hoops having ticketed groundies, then if youre the one climbing, normally youre going to be the best climber on the team/company, how many have got groundies capable of climbing large trees, then possibly having to do a long limb-walk to get to the casualty, then being able to deal with the casualty at the end of the limb, posibly unconsious and being able to get them to the ground safely??

 

in the real world, its just not practicable

[ozy vince]

a guy I used to work for in norfolk used to send me out on my own all the time.. usualy on cut price mates rates stuff, I used to have to climb cut drag and stack and then the chipper guy would rock up later. the only way i could get a groundy apart from refusing the work was if i needed some one to lower stuff. and that person although verry skilled on a lowering rope, could not have rescued me.

 

The only tickets I had were 30/31

 

Climbing is the most rewarding work i can find, out side of the groundy rope lowering work.. Not every one is breaking the rules for the money, some of us just really like the work we do. infact I left tree surgury because the take home money was'nt as good as working in a back packing hostel.

[Dean Lofthouse]

i cant believe what i have just read

 

i never climb or allow any one to climb with out a second climber/rescuer

 

 

You are lucky to have that luxury.

 

One of the things the industry is up against is quoting to get the job and competeing against cowboys / pikies whatever you want to call them.

 

If I quoted for a second climber on every domestic job I would not have a business. It's easy for people to critisise until they are in the same situation and not working for LA or someone else or indeed have second jobs and not rely on tree work primarlily