A good constructive thread, lots of valid points being made.
I thought something stood out from your initial topic post. That being climbed is the trees not rope. The tree being different every time, in every situation, leads it to be unquantifiable in the same way rope access and IRATA rope work can say how strong X and Y is. Therefore the training and experience of the climber is the biggest controlling factor in risk assessment, the tree can’t be relied on to be like the one before or after. The the climber and his experience trumps structural study on the supporting structure, the tree that is.
I don’t think you can suggest a single anchor point is safer and shouldn’t try. Instead we should suggest a icop does tie us in with rope access, but should contain a caveat section that states the climber in tree work has the responsibility and capacity to use rope access/work position techniques as most appropriate.
blah, that was a mouthful! And not phrased in particularly well. But hope it is perhaps a better way for HSE to digest the unique factors that apply to Tree work.
also that the training and through years of experience, a climber is uniquely educated for making a call on the safest way to approach a problem.
ultimately the tree and situation, through the site specific risk assessment, is more important on a daily basis than the higher, generic industry guidance that towers above it.
and a quick note on basal anchors. They should, in my opinion, be used for initial access then top anchored as soon as possible. Taut, tensioned rope around falling objects isn’t a good idea or particularly ‘safe’.
A SRT access system, top tied, with a further DRT system, anchored separately above the SRT system as a working line. To me that is both a reasonable and safe professional way to work as a template. Unless the situation dictates otherwise. Oh, the SRT system detached while the working line is used.
but whole point of my speel is to highlight the situation dictates the appropriate climbing system. So I’m just saying I don’t like working off basal anchors!
hope this makes sense to some, especially those who matter reading this. Again a huge amount of great points written on here. I’ve, largely, enjoyed reading the responses.
