stewmo

I don’t know tbh but that would be my assumption

wahreport.pdf Here's the report...page 5 I think for the clarification of work positioning vs rope access: Quote: In work positioning the rope advances or moves with the climber. In rope access the rope remains static and the climber advances up and down the rope

Ultimately we don't know, we're making educated guesses. But I can't put either MRT or SRT into one or the other, work positioning or rope access.... unless it is defined by moving or static rope as it said in the document. I can climb to my TIP and then work either MRT or SRT. I can throwline in and then work MRT or SRT. I can climb the tree on either, I can ascend on either. There is nothing that clearly distinguishes the two techniques, that says this is this and that is that. The only scenario that cannot be replicated by the other is throwlining in and then base tying for SRT access. If this is the problem then why not say in the ICoP...when accessing the crown with a base tie this is rope access and a second line is necessary.... 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'? Well it is a direct quote from the WaH regs isn't it. Perhaps to cover their backs from a legislative point of view. I get what you are saying and that is why the whole thing is fudge from a user's perspective. But for me there is a difference to 'being tied in twice at all times' and having two TIPs. Being tied in twice at all times will massively reduce the incidents of falling from a tree, if an anchor fails or a line is cut, or descent off the end of a rope. Having two TIPs won't reduce it any further and will be more awkward, more tiring, more complicated, more time consuming etc.

The sticking point for me on this has been why is there any difference between so called MRT and SRT when working the tree? There doesn't seem to be any practical difference in risk to me, and SRT seems considerably more practical in many situations. So I was digging about for definitions and found a Working at Height report by Tony Lane (from 2004!) HSE document that clarified that work positioning is with a moving rope, and rope access is with a static or stationary rope. This is prior to SRT being used by many, if any, climbers in a work situation. HSE has made this distinction for working at heights. I’m presuming they are not inclined to change it, but this is what needs to change for us to have alignment of techniques within our industry. Is there other industries that use both mrt and srt? From inside ours, we can’t see any practical difference between working with a moving rope or a stationary rope but perhaps other industries tend to stick with one and therefore it was an easy way to delineate different ways of working? I don't know 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. BUT For all those slating the AA, with all this in mind, I can’t see what else the icop can say. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a bureaucratic farce, but in trying to understand the whole situation this is what I have found. 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’ I wonder how many people would have gotten into SRT if from the outset we would have had to have had two lines, as was expected by HSE essentially from 2005, if not earlier. I reckon most would have said it wasn't worth the hassle and all the effort into developing techniques and kit may never have happened.

That's about it really isn't it. Still, there will always be rules and there will always be interpretations....

Go on, what did he say then.....being in the 'fuck off' camp i'm interested

I agree with what you are saying with respect to work positioning. It seems like a very workable solution to be tied in twice and one that I have felt from the beginning of this whole debate is the solution. What are your thoughts on rope access to the crown where currently we shoot up one rope and ascend? Will you put two ropes in ? Thanks

Think you know more than me mate [emoji106]

It’s for your lanyard

I think Honey's will splice any rope so that why I was surprised the didn't offer it....anyway just got on with buying some non-ce cougar again....i want a splice! I think Drenaline has a cover and a core so that makes it kernmantle?

I just noticed on Honey Bros that xstatic is not spliceable?

For those of you in the know - are these comparable ropes? I've used the non-ce cougar for srt a lot over the last few years and it works well for drt too. I still swop a lot between the two and don't want a bouncy rope for srt! If there is a ce rope that doesn't bounce srt I'd use it rather than non ce and it's new rope time! Cheers me dears!

THIS!!

On a slightly different note....setting the anvil. Do people generally have the anvil set to the maximum gap? I'm presuming this will give maximum pull on the brash too.... cheers

I’ve often found my echo chain very fiddly to to get right. It can be slightly too loose and chain starts to run, tweak it a fraction and then tightens up [emoji848] But then it settles down and good for a while

Interesting stuff. Thanks it seems hard to believe but can’t argue with your experience. Anyway so say 1hr a day, 5 days a week, that’s going to be a sharpen every 4-6 weeks. I’m just trying to get a gauge that’s all, cheers

I was thinking about this blade sharpening every 20 hours or so..... Isn't it possible you could clock that up in a busy week? Or am I missing something about 'hours'? And therefore 300 hours could make a machine, even at 10 hours a week, just 6 months old? Thanks

1 rope and two strops seems more practical to me if you have to be tied in twice at all times.

Always heard good things about him

I thought he closed up a while back

Dartmoor. But yes the postal system works wherever but nice to stay local where possible

Anyone recommend a place to sharpen blades? I'm in the south west cheers

Beranek is still stropped into the dead one though. Wire gate carabiner with gate removed? You practise your quick draw Wild West style

Are HSE changing the definition of tree work from work positioning to rope access? Or are they saying that for work positioning we will require two ropes? Could we have one main line and two lanyards? This would be two points of contact at all times and three for cutting?

Had a couple of burns already. 2ft thick stone walls can leave house feeling a bit damp even in summer