Jake Andrews

I had to remove this ash tree over a reservoir spillway yesterday. The tree was suppressed so no high anchor point. I used a taller Alder from behind (with the lowering bollard on) as an anchor for both ropes and the rigging block. My anchor points chosen were two cambium savers block knotted for srt use. I then traversed over to the ash via the Captain Hook and installed a static redirect for only one line. This then allowed me some triangulation to move around the canopy. Definitely took longer in the set up time but not to bad. Overall was around 3.5 hours from set up to leaving site.

I’d be wary of using the Roll’n’Lock as you can’t pay out slack. I’ve made traverses before where you have to descend a little to make it across or grab branches. That’s why I use my Gri-Gri. Just something to think about.

Not quite. Please don’t bounce on your anchors with two people. It has been known for accidents to arise from doing this. It has weakened branches and they have failed whilst the climber has been ascending. Instead, two people should statically load the anchor. It’s much safer. Something else that should be on the ICOP. I’ll be honest and say I don’t really have a massive problem with two rope working, it’s enabled me to get into some very good and safe working positions that I would not of achieved on a single line. My biggest problem is that the ICOP is nowhere near comprehensive enough and is lacking in so much detail. This whole notion has moved too fast and has been rushed.

Mine was great in my bridge. Had it on there for around 5 years and it’s fantastic as a bridge connector. So many options available for work positioning.

Yeh, literally just took it off my bridge to put on the swivels. ??? Felt two independent systems would work better for me.

A little. I have to take a system off (once lanyarded in of course) and pass it around to put back on the bridge sometimes to uncross them but not overly painful. It’s getting easier.

Sorry for the poor photo. 2SRT systems placed into one Teufelberger Multianchor. Both retrievable from the ground along with the multi anchor which is basically one long cambium saver with. Options for 2 ropes attachment.

It HAS gone ahead.

Thanks. Yeh put the swivels on myself. They slide straight onto the bridges so easy enough. No, I don’t climb on the zigzag. Always fancied one but price tag has put me off. I certainly won’t get one in a hurry now as I think I would prefer 2 of the same systems so £400 plus is a little pricey for 2 zigzags. I’ll stick with the RW and hitches for now and see how I get on.

Agreed, but I bet this is fairly standard throughout the industry.

[emoji319][emoji1335] Prezzies!!!! Trying to get in line with the new (ish) W@h regs. Items bought: 1x Petzl Sequoia SRT 2019 harness with 2x bridges attached. 2x Petzl micro swivels located on both bridges. 2x 8mm Ocean Polyester e2e hitch cord. 1x Rope Wrench 1x phlotich pulley (2 but waiting on another one) 1x Pantin (left foot) 2x Camp cambium Savers.

Isn’t the comp distinctly different at the Arb show than that at the Arb conference? I thought the Arb conference comp was ISA so would likely be ISA rules id assume. The Arb show Comp has to be best industry standard............. surely. I think it would be cool to see rescue comps like they do in other industries, feel like that could benefit us more imho. I know they do it in the ISA comps but there system seems very dated to me. Who foot locks these days?‍♂️

That is absolutely incredible!

More to the point, why is it not written into our working at height ICOP ?????

Nice Khriss, Thanks for the info, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of our maximum swing potential before to the point where I thought it didn’t exist. Not only is it not a lot, it’s currently impossible with our current working practices. This is definitely where srt should not be discouraged as one of its safety benefits is the easy placement of redirects.

Hi Jamie, glad to see you back and thanks for the response. Can I ask why IRATA technicians can use both the working line and back up line on the same 2 anchors as you’ve stated above whilst the W@H regs seem to state that you need independent anchors? Is this down to the load being shared between anchors and therefore classed as two anchors? Also, what is the maximum swing potential you are allowed in rope access? This is another thing I’ve been thinking about recently when we ascend huge leaning limbs with just a side strop and the swing potential is huge. Obviously this is something we can overcome with two Permian things lines. My personal view is to use two working lines in srt (2srt) instead of using a permanent back up system. At least this will aid me in climbing and just not dragging something around the tree with me getting in the way.

@stewmo For us it makes no sense to have different standards for different rope techniques accessing the same structures (trees) in essentially the same way. Single rope, single anchor point with localised backup. SRT needs to classed as work positioning in tree work. I believe it is..............when you're in position, with your strop ready to cut. I think it's the accessing the canopy which differentiates it between 'work positioning' and 'Rope access'. We use two different systems when climbing a tree. Rope access are always backed up, even when they train for rescue. I believe this is what the HSE are wanting us to comply with . And thus.... In the WaH regs it says a work positioning system must ‘include a suitable backup system’ and for rope access and positioning techniques ‘a system comprises two separately anchored lines’ Can you categorically tell me what the difference is between the two? What is a 'suitable backup' that isn't two 'independent anchored lines'?

?????? - Im only laughing because i can just imagine your horror....................... especially the two rope talk.

So it was the AA that made you have that talk with your climbers?

I never knew you had to use their specified hitch in the CE climb. Interesting. I guess you replace the hitch cord with the exact same when required and it should never affect its performance.

I’ve had one for a year and a half. Used it half a dozen times or so maybe and not used as much as I intended.

But there are devices out there that don’t require a bugee strop such as the CAMP goblin. I just don’t think there are practical around the canopy or can handle the same rope deviations we do in a canopy. I do think however they would be very good for spar work where all branches are removed and you don’t have to move 2 systems down each time.

I totally get your point K as I have also been in your position many times before. But imagine you were classed as an upper tier arborist of some sort and part of your job description was to train the young lads as Well as supervise the site. You would be paid accordingly for your skill level. Subbies would also be tiered perhaps weaning many of them out. Whilst training is poor, I don’t think that we will ever have a system where ‘newbies’ will be able to work from the off. Some on site training will always be required and the boss will always expect this if you.

Schedule 5 of the working at height regulations. It’s this document that the HSE have deemed we are in breach of. All the ICOP has appeared to have done is recite the same lines as the regulations but they are still not clear to the end user.