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Posted By Mike B
What are the pros and cons of using short fixed restraint lanyards as opposed to arrester type of lanyards. The situation is climbing fixed vertical ladders using twin tail lanyards ie clip on climb a few rungs and then clip the other lanyard on.
I immediately thought of arrester type but with further discussion I am now thinking that we would be better going for a restraint system and attempting to restrain the fall altogether.
Thanks, Mike
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Posted By C.J.
Mike,
Restraint lanyards can not be used for the purpose you are describing.
Restraint lanyards should only be used to prevent the person reaching the area where they could fall, that is impossible on a fixed ladder.
Work positioning lanyards are routinely used on fixed ladders but these should be backed up with a fall arrest lanyard.
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Posted By Stevie C
I totally agree with the last post. Make sure you train all operatives in their use....particularly starting with awareness training on the right type for the job. There are plenty of companies out there that will train on WAH. I normally use JSP or Miller.
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Posted By CFT
Mike
I can see your logic in the choice, but as detailed above, in the situation such as you describe, an arrest system with shock absorption would be the correct choice. I am delighted to see you refer to a TT system; just the other day I watched a chap climbing a huge hooped ladder with just one such line, un-clipping and repositioning every couple of metres; he was extremely vulnerable many times during his upward journey. And yes, I made the call.
CFT
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Posted By Dave Merchant
"just the other day I watched a chap climbing a huge hooped ladder with just one such line, un-clipping and repositioning every couple of metres;"
I guess you missed the tank divers on Danger Men then!
In answer to the OP, legally you have no option but to use lanyards with an energy absorber for clip-clopping up a ladder, but also make sure that you use a Y-shaped "twin tail" lanyard rather than two single-tails in parallel. Only one energy absorber must arrest the fall.
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Posted By Mike B
Thanks for the responses, what concerns me is that if using arrester lanyards there would be no protection provided for up to the first 4 metres, since that seems to be the safe guide distance for some of the arresters to deploy. Do we agree? How about using energy absorbing braided rope lanyards (tractel or similar) these are fitted with energy absorbers rather than fall arresters, are these also a no-no? personally I would rather have something like that fastened to me where, admittedly there would be an element of arrest, albeit very short, say 300mm if the lanyards are applied rung by rung, rather than facing a 4 metre arrested fall with potential pendulum effect and suspension trauma. I understand that twin tailed arresters is the industry standard for this type of application but surely in sport rock climbing the ropes are fixed and they dont use fall arrest lanyards. We have all been trained in climbing operations and have a comprehensive permit system for this. I am just trying to challenge conventional wisdom, no climbing will occur until every one is happy.
Mike
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Posted By Dave Merchant
In sport climbing the ropes are stretchy, and even so nobody in their right mind would take a fall on a 1m 'dead' belay. Tests performed for the HSE dropping onto short sewn-eye dynamic ropes produced forces far higher than legally allowed.
The deployment length of a lanyard energy absorber can be _UP TO_ 1.75m but that's worst-case with the maximum user weight. If the tails are hooked at or above chest height, as they are when you climb a ladder, then a typical 100kg bodymass will deploy less than 30cm, so the distance their feet actually travel is usually less than 2m. Some lanyards are shorter than others, but the idea you're not protected until you're 4m above ground is only relevant to climbing on steelwork etc. where the tails are hooked down near your feet.
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Posted By C.J.
I agree with dave, we had a slip from a ladder on a stub tower a few months ago. because the climber had attached himself quite high up the fall was arrested before the lanyard fully deployed and he did not contact the ground.
There is no reason to be connecting at foot level while climbing a ladder so it is still a safe means of fall arrest for short climbs.
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Posted By Mike B
Thanks for that Dave, I was not aware that the lanyards would deploy as little as 30cm as you described. I think I will go and speak with the training provider now, who is also the supplier of the equipment. I wanted to get a bit more information from here first as I know that guys such as yourself are gurus when it comes to climbing operations and equipment.
The thing with climbing gear is that one could get loads of different equipment and even after training not really be 100% sure of exactly how the protection system would perform in the event of a fall.
Thanks again, Mike
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Posted By Mike B
CJ with reference to your climber who slipped; was there any injuries to the person and was he able to self-rescue? as this is exactly the type of fall we envisage.
Mike
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Posted By C.J.
Mike,
No injuries were sustained and he self rescued, though all climbers are in teams of 2 and trained in rescue, in case the person is rendered unconscious or injured during the fall.
The chap was a very experienced climber who was rather embarrassed by the incident, just shows in can happen to anyone.
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Posted By Mike B
Thanks for that CJ. I am hoping to do some more 'brain picking' of the climbing experts on here as we develop this area.
Thanks for now, Mike
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