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No servant is greater than his master. A servant is one who toils and strives to make his master look good. His labor contributes to the success and overall well being of the same. His thoughts are filled with wondering what can be done to improve the life of his master. The heart’s motive is to make his master shine without attempting to bring attention to himself. Absent are the thoughts of how one’s labor can benefit himself and elevate his own standing.
Do so and the word “passion” will return to how others describe you. In past newsletters you’ve heard Lance talk about passion… as the glue that holds dreams together. A true servant has passion, a goal outlined to make his “chief” or his “unit” a success and the willingness to pursue that goal to whatever degree necessary. A dedication to the point where his life is wrapped up in the success of others before himself…a glue holding dreams together.
We at Rescue Response Gear would like to point out this critical chance to give feedback to new OSHA standards regarding the Rope Access arena. Please read the following article.
To: SPRAT Members and Stakeholders
URGENT!!!
OSHA is proposing to revise their Walking-Working Surfaces Standard (Subpart D) and Addition of Personal Fall Protection Equipment Criteria (Subpart I). The proposed rule was recently announced in the Federal Register: “29 CFR Part 1910: Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems); Proposed Rule”. You can find the proposal here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10418.pdf
Please take a moment to review and provide feedback as appropriate. The Comment Period ends August 23. Please take special care to recommend verbiage that might allow the use of Rope Access techniques and systems, but at the same time not condone “controlled descent” systems that do not require extra training or certification of technicians.
First of all, we should applaud OSHA for the proactive stance they are taking with this project. OSHA appears to be heading toward a reorganization of Subpart D similar to the 1926 Subpart M. What a concept: harmonization of fall protection standards! This is a step in the right direction. Throughout the document there is a clear intent to take account of modern industry techniques and equipment, and for this the effort should be commended. However, in the proposed rule you will find that OSHA changes its well established definition of competent person leaving out the authority to take corrective action. Ensuring that the competent person is one who has ability to take corrective action is very important and should remain.
One thing that could be more clearly specified in this new rule is specification of different types of equipment for different uses (ie, Fall Arrest does not need same equipment as Positioning, which in turn does not need same equipment specifications as Rope Access, etc). These requirements clearly should be in line with existing industry standards.
In addition, we do need to express a few specific concerns in the area of Rope Descent Systems (RDS) as described by the proposed rule. First of all, the proposal suggests that Rope Descent Systems will be addressed under 1910.27 Scaffolds (including rope descent systems). This is completely inappropriate, as training, equipment, and safety for Professional Rope Access is quite different from that for scaffolds. Rope Access should have it’s own regulatory section.
Rope descent systems are described in this document as representing a variation of the single-point adjustable suspension scaffold. This is a terribly antiquated view of what ropework really is, and does not adequately acknowledge the extreme versatility and safety record of rope access. This concept should be broadened to something like “rope access systems used for rope supported work” and criteria provided accordingly. There is precedent for this. The existing California General Safety Orders address these concepts quite well in Subchapter 7, General Industry Safety Orders; Group 1 General Physical Conditions and Structures; Article 4 Access, Work Space, and Work Areas; §3270.1. Use of Rope Access Equipment, which addresses the matter reasonably well. (see http://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3270_1.html)
Further, rope descent systems appear to be described as being “used by employees to lower themselves down the side of a building…”. In fact, the criteria given are largely based on ANSI/IWCA I–14.1–2007, Window Cleaning Safety. Some of the requirements in the document (such as requiring intermittent stabilization at 130 feet) are quite specific to window cleaning. This is incredibly restrictive to other trades in that it addresses only window cleaning and does not acknowledge such common and appropriate applications such as: Structural inspection; Non destructive testing; Oil Platform Maintenance; Concrete repair; Glazing; Painting; Pest Control; Façade Survey; Wind Turbine Repair; Water tank maintenance; Banner/Sign erection; Geotechnical Engineering ; Etc. Expanding the terminology to “rope access systems used for rope supported work” as described above, would resolve this matter to include other workers using roped systems and would allow for more techniques than just descent. Please make note for OSHA specific requirements that they’ve included which may not be appropriate to Rope Access, as well as requirements that seem to be missing.
I do not believe that the intent of OSHA is to limit the use of roped systems to Window Cleaners, but if this were an unintended result of the new rule it would have a detrimental effect on firms in these aforementioned industries, and would effectively drive some of these companies completely out of business. Overall anticipated cost of excluding rope access in the industries where it is frequently used would be excessive.
With an entire section dedicated to Rope Access, the rule would be able to address all critical aspects of good rope access safe practices, including
1. Training requirements for basic and advanced skills
2. Training requirements for supervisory level personel
3. Anchorage requirements, regardless of environment (ie, not just buildings!)
4. Equipment selection, care, and maintenance
5. Daily and periodic equipment inspections
6. Proper rigging techniques
7. Appropriate secondary/backup system requirements
8. Proper protection in areas where rope can be damaged (sharp edges, heat, etc.)
9. Rescue plan
The concept of training is of critical importance. While the need for training is acknowledged in the document, what that training should encompass… and more importantly what knowledge/capability should be exhibited by an employee using rope access techniques… should be spelled out more clearly. The requirement for training notes that training may be informal, or on-the-job training. This is not adequate. Specific to training for use of ropes for access in work at height, additional and specific training should be required – perhaps even to include licensure or certification by an industry organization such as the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians, Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, etc.
Finally, in the subject of training, the concept of requiring an immigrant to undergo additional training is discriminatory and unjustifiable. There is nothing about being an immigrant that should necessitates any more or less training than a person born within the United States.
OSHA invites comments on the proposed rule, and is required by low to carefully review and evaluate comments, information, and data, submitted.
You should submit written data, views, and arguments concerning this proposal. In particular, the Agency welcomes comments on its determination of the economic or other regulatory impacts of the proposed rule on the regulated community.
Submit comments (including comments on the information-collection (paperwork) determination described under the section titled SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION of this document), hearing requests, and other information by August 23, 2010. All submissions must bear a postmark or provide other
evidence of the submission date. Comments and hearing requests may be submitted as follows:
· Electronic: Comments may be submitted electronically to http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.
· Facsimile: OSHA allows facsimile transmission of comments and hearing requests that are 10 pages or fewer in length (including attachments). Send these documents to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693–1648; hard copies of these documents are not required. Instead of transmitting facsimile copies of attachments that supplement these documents (e.g., studies, journal articles), commenters may submit these attachments, in triplicate hard copy, to the OSHA Docket Office, Technical Data Center, Room N–2625, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. These attachments must clearly identify the sender’s name, date, subject, and Docket ID (i.e., OSHA–2007–0072) so that the Agency can attach them to the appropriate document.
· Regular mail, express delivery, hand (courier) delivery, and messenger service: Submit three copies of comments and any additional material (e.g., studies, journal articles) to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket ID OSHA–2007–0072 or RIN No. 1218–AB80, Technical Data Center, Room N–2625, OSHA, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693–2350. (OSHA’s TTY number is (877) 889–5627.) Please contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security procedures concerning delivery of materials by express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger service. The hours of operation for the OSHA Docket Office are 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.t. Instructions. All submissions must include the Agency name and the OSHA Docket ID (i.e., OSHA–2007–0072).
Thank you for your consideration. I encourage you to seriously consider the importance of submitting comments, and do so in a timely fashion so as to have the greatest impact on the development of the document.
Warm Regards,
Loui McCurley
Regulatory Assistance Committee
Regarding the upcoming Petzl Workshops: “I can speak from experience; the Petzl Solutions Workshops are “fully assembled” with no missing parts. From start to finish, products and solutions are presented in a professional manner with a high level of energy; Lots of things to cover and not much time to “dilly-dally” around. I would recommend any of these workshops for any technician.” Lance Piatt, owner Rescue Response Gear.
The next workshop is the Petzl Equipment Management Workshop, August 24-25, 2010. Sign-Up Deadline: July 30, 2010.
Workshop participants will learn Petzl’s recommendations for care, maintenance, and inspection of life safety equipment. The program will cover practical techniques and procedures required to conduct thorough examinations, produce inspection reports, and specify corrective action when needed. Considerations for creating a thorough life safety equipment management system and inspection regime will also be covered.
Instructor: Rick Vance
After that the Petzl Climbing and Arborist Workshop, August 26-27, 2010. Sign-Up Deadline: July 30, 2010.
Workshop participants will learn about advanced tree-climbing systems that make tree climbing safer, easier, and more efficient. Topics will include single rope and double rope techniques, limb walking, and climbing rope installation / retrieval. Basic concepts of physics and mechanical advantage will be introduced as they relate to climbing systems. Arborist ascent and aerial rescue techniques will also be covered. Drop tests will be performed to demonstrate the strengths and limitations of key pieces of equipment.
Instructors: Luke Glines & Charley Wagner
You can check out other Training Workshops coming up at RescueResponseGear.com.
(Generated from Solid Rock Climbers for Christ Newsletter)
Karen Feher of Midlothian, VA died in a fall from the anchors on a climb in New River Gorge two weekends ago. It was brought to our attention when Eric Hörst posted this on Facebook last week, “Yesterday I heard about the climbing fatality at the New…but I didn’t want to comment at the time. But now that I’ve seen this video (www.wtvr.com/news/), I must pass it on. So sad, yet Jay (the husband’s) faith is so amazing and inspiring.”
Our heart and prayers are with Jay and her two kids. Please join in praying for them. Also, we are wondering if any Solid Rockers personally know the family? We would like to deliver some resources to the family.
Rather than go into a large discourse in the aspects of safety and checking your gear, this video UKC Videos, shows (very well) the dangers of using non-sewn or open slings.
Anyone who climbs and stays with it, will, eventually, have something go wrong; often, things that can go wrong, will go wrong and will do so (mostly) due to human error. Even gear failure can almost always be traced back to a lack of maintenance on the part of the user. Please be careful and be a student of the game. Love life and do it again tomorrow.
If you want to read what happened and learn from it you can visit: http://www.petzl.com/us/node/9886. 
You know you feel old when…
Jun 18
You know you feel old when “you could have been surfing for thirty plus years or climbing for twenty six years” if… one had stayed with it (either of them). So for me, surfing has been back for 7 years, but I am land locked. Climbing, which is all around me, is back again as well; Mostly because my son encouraged me to give it another whirl. Why did he take so long to ask me? Typical parental response!
In some respects, I have climbed off and on for many years, but not enough to really progress much. My friend Dean (who lives in June Lake, near Yosemite) has been a huge inspiration to me. On one climb, I took an incredible 60 minutes, to lead one stinking pitch; his patience was remarkable. Although it had been many years since placing a single piece of gear on a climb, my appetite was set for trad routes (placing gear in lieu of clipping bolts). If you can lead in Yosemite, you can lead anywhere. I hadn’t climbed much since then, but did have some motivation to take youth groups and “leaders” out for a day on the rocks. Super fun.
This leads up to the present. With a recent opportunity for Rescue Response Gear to do some filming with Peak Rescue Institute in Joshua Tree National Park, my old stomping grounds (Intersection Rock, The Old Women and The Blob) were in full view. Oddly enough, this is where my friend Dean first cut his teeth as well. A spectacular place, with stunning landscapes, clear skies, warm air and… wicked sharp rock with a nasty disposition for goof balls and those who lack the right gear. A 5.7 can quickly turn into something intimidating without things like a Black Diamond Camelot #4.
The two days prior to shooting were amazing; Climbing with my son, where twenty-five years before, I had started climbing… only he is much better than I was then. Still, the hook was set. The interesting plot in front me was forming. Rigging; placing gear, planning the belay stance on multi-pitch routes and setting three and sometimes four point equalized anchors were common. I loved it. At 50, I will never be able to climb “young” again, but securing the climbs (and falls), are certainly things I can do well enough and get better at. My life is much the same. The Lord has granted me many opportunities to help anchor or lead people… knowing placements, direction of falls (vector angles) and encouragement are huge and should never be shrugged off.
A recent outing at our local crag (Smith Rock) was another example where not having the right gear (again a #4 and #3 BD Camelot) meant certain problems for me; fortunately, a friend had both; Thanks Adam!
All this has lead me to a pivotal point in my life. Experience should lead to wisdom (applied knowledge, understanding and discernment over time; almost sounds like science) and if not, you end up “where only fools tread”; Proper rigging, as in life, is exactly the same. Whether securing a belay, being on the “sharp end” of the rope or creating anchors in anticipation of something really bad, a solid foundation and wisdom is mandatory. Without both, your life or someones day, could come to a halt real fast. As it has been said, “it isn’t fall that kills you, but the sudden deceleration”.
My friends, life can be a playground of blessings or poor reflection of who we are to be; pay attention to life and love people.
Lance
Having been trapped on Mt. Hood and needing the services of PMRU (MRA Team based in Portland and Mt. Hood), I know full well… both sides of the argument. However, being on a technical rescue team for many years also gives me a clearer understanding of being “in the service of others”… many of the thousands of men and women who give of their time, energy and money attest to the generosity of the human heart. Politicians can barely tie their own shoes, much less make a common sense call… this is no exception.
Adventure and negligence; who makes this call? Love to hear your comments below. Or jump into the Facebook discussion on Lessons of the Mount Hood Tragedy: Who Pays for Search and Rescue?
This letter is a must read… Lessons of the Mount Hood Tragedy: Who Pays for Search and Rescue?
I have long felt that our company is about significance rather than success. Success can be defined by many parameters, but significance is generally held as a by product of going beyond the call of duty and the result is a blessing for others.
Rescue Response Gear has created a series of reality based videos for the purposes of bringing more than just gear to our customers. A sense of community, purpose, planning and strategy; sort of like life. We had the honor of having our local paper stop by one of our film shoots to ask a few questions; check out the article. We were really glad they did.
Among the RRG’s manufacturers, (Petzl, Sterling Rope, etc.) we are consistently at the top or very close to the top in every category of sales and service for their gear, and in video and product consulting.
We are excited to announce the new release of our 3rd rescue video: Rescue Response Team High Angle Raise with Vortex Side A-frame Part 1 File N015.
Many of you have become very familiar with not just our video scenarios, but with our company as well. However, for those who aren’t, a brief introduction would be great.
Our goal at Rescue Response Gear is to inspire and implement solutions. Solutions for not just the necessities of rescue and rigging, but of heart, soul and spirit as well. Not sure how that works?
Every event in our lives has consequences (both positive and negative); decisions made one moment, effect not just our lives, but others as well. I can think of no other example of love, than when a person gives his life (or puts it on the line) for another. The greatest example of this is Jesus, who gave His life for us… that we may live. You (reading this letter) live in amazing company.
So to this, our first video introduced a young boy, who when rappelling into a cave, fell and fractured his ankle. The Rescue Response Team responded and created an artificial high directional via a deflected-offset, using a bat-wing pulley system at one end and an AZTEK set-of-fours at the other. The medic rappelled to the patient, treated the injured as best as possible and the team hauled him up and out.
The second video, a scenario involving a young girl who sustained massive head trauma and C-Spine injury as a result of falling backwards on a very steep rock band. The Rescue Response Team was on scene to treat and evacuate the patient. A dual track-line was used to lower her to the awaiting arms of the medics after the rescue team immobilized the neck and spine and treated a large skull fracture. The amazing Arizona Vortex Multi-pod AHD was used to perform the job of creating the angle for the lower.
Arizona Vortex Multi-pod Side S-A Frame
I am not at liberty tell you what the 3rd video installment is, but I can tell you it will be well worth the view. The impact forces of a 60′ fall on the human body can really do some damage.
What RRG wishes to express is that we all need each other. To communicate a need is not always easy. Walking around our problems and other’s shortcomings might seem the best tactic, but in the end, could lead to some serious negative consequences. The Lord gave His life for us that we might serve others. So in that spirit, we at Rescue Response Gear say thank you to all who serve.
Enjoy our next video Rescue Response Team High Angle Raise with Vortex Side A-frame Part 1 File N015. Release is expected Monday the 23rd. In the mean, check out all the Rescue Response Gear video and product education pieces.
Here is a recent comment/question about our latest Rescue Response Team Video:
“We just finished watching your video (RESCUE RESPONSE TEAM:
Cliff Rescue and High Directional, Part 2 CASE FILE N.014 | Video) and we
had a quick question just to clear up some terminology and confusion on
our part. In the video a dual “Tracking” line was set up. It was taught
to us in the past that a tracking line is medium tension and generally not
built with dual lines and that this in fact is a dual “TRACK” line used
for a highline. Now we know that by definition they in fact both are
“highlines” but with “tracking” lines is the tension still considered
medium and not high tension like a true sloping “highline” ? Thanks for
the help and thanks for putting out such good resources and training
material.”
Answered by Matt of Rescue Response Gear:
Great question! We went back and forth on what terminology to use for
this setup. Usually the Track lines in highline systems are fixed. As we
preformed the rescue we used different tensions with our MA to bring the
litter down to the patient and then again near the bottom to clear the
creek. Most of these adjustments were taken out of the final video but it
is because we used them as a way to control lateral movement that we
called the lines, Tracking lines.
You are absolutely right that tracking lines are usually single and only
have medium tension. We used one person pulling an 8:1 (2 side by side
equalizing 4:1′s) to adjust and tension our lines which I would consider a
medium tension (CMC recommends an 18:1 after loading). With a single
tracking line I would usually use a Z drag or 4:1. We used two lines
because at one point in the lower just past the cliff’s edge we would not
have passed the knife test which is like the whistle test where everyone
drops everything and the system must “catch” but then goes a step further.
To pass, any one piece of gear can be cut or destroyed and the attendant/
package would still be safe.
If I did it again, I would have made it a dual Track highline with higher
tension and not try to demonstrate the litter manipulation biased on its
tension.
Let me know if that answers the question and thanks for asking! We will
post this question on our Facebook account for others with the same
question.
Matt
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Three Sisters Backcountry operates the facilities for the Oregon Avalanche Institute. Located near Sisters, Oregon, our institute is Oregon’s original American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) course provider. Our courses follow the American Avalanche Association (AAA) guidelines and meet the standards of the American Mountain Guides Association. OAI is Oregon’s local, professional avalanche training institute. www.Three Sisters Backcountry.com and www.Oregon Avalanche Institute.org.
