Fall protection

[jason]

Post on another thread got me to thinking... Who out there is using fall protection of some kind when climbing structures? And what kind?

I've always figured I'd be looking at a couple of short leashes, and swapping from one to the other on the way up. Is this what people are using, or is there something less time and energy intensive for an already long trip to the top?

[guest]

I have a friend that uses fall protection when climbing towers(hopefully he'll post and clarify). He has a sort of fall arrest device that essentially is a cable ascender that locks down to the cable when anything but upwards pressure occurs. He swears by it but I know it is cumbersome and loud, however if it makes you feel safer and jump more often, then alright. Good luck and stay safe.
later

one more thing...."where's John Hayes"????

[guest]

I build scaffold frequently and I use a similar, if not the same device. We call them rope-grabs and are available at many stores that specialize in work-place safety. They are basically a light, metal shackle that hinges and buckles around a rope that will only move upwards when intentionally pulled. If downward pressure is applied, it engages teeth that grip the rope, stopping further descent. The unit is a little larger than a fist, but is rather expensive. The ones I've bought were around $100, but for the security of a safe climb, it's cheap I think. Just make sure to know what size rope you are using because I think they do make different size ones. As for the noise, they are quieter than a jingling set of keys and Definitely quieter than a canopy opening!:7

Hope this helps!

Mike:7

[guest]

Fall protection = BASE rig
DOH!

[guest]

I found it online. Try this:


www.cdalloz.com/fall/cd_ropegrabs.html

Mike

[web]

"SALA" makes an assortment of fall-arrest devices for use with safety wires commonly found on industrial ladders. i've used them at work in conjunction with a full-body harness but haven't added one to my jump-kit.

you'll notice that most safety wires are trapped in rubberized standoffs at about 10m intervals. you can yank the wire out of the rubber jaws to pass the arrestor and then replace the wire without exposing yourself.

for air-tight fall protection while wearing a BASE-rig, you should use a locking carabiner through each tertiary loop of your harness attached to a pair of short runners which will in turn be attached to the arrestor via another locking carabiner. this assembly will form a secure two-legged bridle between your tertiary loops and the arrestor, which you will drag up the safety wire. the length of the runners will depend upon the girth of your chest.

alternatively, you could attach the arrestor to a rock-climbing harness worn under your rig. this has the disadvantage that you will be caught at the waist if you slip instead of at chest-level.

if you're serious about fall protection, always use locking carabiners for your critical connections.

and now for the UTTERLY UNAUTHORIZED real-world use of a safety wire.....

i have built an open-cheek riding block from a piece of 6061T6 aluminum and a modified 49mm skateboard wheel. (#460 has seen it, but i have refined the suspension setup since last i jumped with him.) i attach the block to a sling which i tie from a 1m runner and wear across my back/around my chest. the block rides up the safety wire and shares some of the load on my arms, making the climb somewhat easier. i'm careful to never put my full weight back into the sling, as that will pull the wire from the rubberized standoffs, and to always keep a tight grip on the ladder. when i reach a standoff, i just lean into the ladder and jump the block past it with my off hand. the open cheek of the block allows me to make this move with no more than a second of "exposure". this "exposure" is VERY relative, as the block is not designed or intended to provide any fall-arrest capacity, but it just might be enough to stop my skinny ass at the next standoff if i peel. the primary benefit is that this setup helps me to make 350m climbs in 30min without aggravating the tendonitis in my elbows.

i always wear a rock climbing harness and carry at least one quickdraw. some of my favorite towers with internal ladders are small enough that i drag the rig up in a stash bag suspended from the climbing harness to avoid scraping it on every obstruction behind me. when i get to the exit point, i clip into the ladder, gear up, gut up, un-clip and climb out.

on unobstructed ladders, i wear the sling and harness under my rig and clip in near the exit point to get my head and pull-hand together. i'm sure you know how shaky your grip can feel after a hard climb!

in any event, don't push yourself so hard on the climb that you lose focus on hand and foot placement. until you're high enough and clear of obstructions, your hold on the object is what's keeping you alive.

midnight blue ones.....

[guest]

I've been using the DBI/SALA Lad-Saf cable grab all summer, and I really like it. It really adds a sense of security for those first 150' or so. Especially because the bottom 50' of the tower is often wet with dew and very slippery. I use the Lad-Saf sleeve with a quickdraw that is then clipped through a tersh loop. I have been using just one quickdraw for freedom of movement (side-to-side), although, in a fall, the non-symetrical way the load would be applied to my harness is definately not ideal. It's a compromise. The sleeve is a little noisy. It has an idler wheel inside that rides on the 3/8" cable, and it rattles a bit.

Pulling the cable out of the rubber guides as you pass takes a little getting used to to get into a rhythm. At first it's a pain, but then it gets to be habit, and it doesn't slow you down. Being protected at all times makes it worth it.

I was just looking at a new antenna this weekend with an outside climb/integral ladder, and it had no fall arrest cable on it. It made it a lot less appealing.

Here's more info on where I got the cable grab:

$182 from American Safety Supply. 800-472-3892.

DBI/Sala part# 6116500 "Lad-Saf Sleeve w/o carabiner"

[web]

thanx for the info....i couldn't get SALA's online catalog to work. please substitute "cable-grab" for "arrestor" in my post above.

[guest]

When using the cable grab's make sure that you have the right size grab for the safety cable on the structure. The tower industry has came around in the last 7 or 8 years and have all adopted the same diameter cables. However some of the older towers out there have different diameter cables on them (if any at all). Check your fall arrest device, which ever you decide on while on the ground.

ALSO, make sure that you do not try to use a rope grab on a cable. They have about a 50% chance of working, needing it twice will greatly reduce these odd's.

peace