Introduction

New techniques and equipment for tree climbing are emerging rapidly.  Social media propagates good and poor information with equal rapidity.  While the rapid crossover of gear from other high-angle disciplines into tree care fuels many useful energy-saving techniques, it can lead to misinformed decisions and unsafe actions.  Social media also introduces a large audience with little experience to often complex systems and processes.  

While innovation is necessary for industry growth, what’s needed is a systematic approach to testing new concepts and equipment.  The adage of low and slow is a good approach to introducing new equipment and techniques, but it is not enough to ensure the safe incorporation of new techniques or equipment into the workplace.

A systematic approach can incorporate backup components, rescue procedures, and additional safety measures to establish a fail-safe system. Remember, fail-safe does not mean a component cannot fail; it means that if a component does fail, the system will fail in a safe or non-catastrophic way. 

A Few Terms

Let’s define a few basic terms for the purpose of this discussion. A system is a linking of specific applications of techniques and equipment.  When used as such, the techniques and equipment are ‘components’ of that system.    A “primary” is the major load-bearing part of a system.    A “backup” is any component that will limit a fall or slip and can alternately be used in place of the primary.  A backup must serve the same function as the primary.  Lastly, “ a safety” is any component that serves to limit a slip or fall.  A safety does not need to double as a primary.  Both a backup and a safety may be comprised of one or more components.  

The basic ascending system of a single-line footlock will illustrate these terms.  A line is set in the canopy of a tree.  The end of the line is secured to the base of the tree.  The climber attaches a handled ascender to the line with a tether attached to the climbing saddle.  Above the ascender, the climber ties a Prussic to the line and attaches that to the ascender.  The combination of the ascent line, the ascender, the Prussic, the rope, the saddle, and connecting links forms a “system.”  Any of the individual pieces are “components.”

The ascender serves as the “primary.”  The Prussic serves as the “backup.”  If the climber were to ascend ten or fifteen feet, grab a bite of rope underneath the primary, and tie a suitable in-line knot, then the climber would have added a “safety” to the system.  The in-line knot is not a backup.  It only limits or stops a fall.  The Prussic is a backup.  Not only will it limit a fall, but it can also be used to ascend if the primary were to fail. This difference between a backup and a safety is important.  The presence of a safety without a backup will limit a fall, but not allow a climber to continue to ascend in the event of primary failure.  

Rescue

Rescue is the act of recovering from a component or system failure or malfunction.  Rescues come in two basic forms: “self-rescue” and “assisted rescue.” A self-rescue is when the climber lowers him or herself to the ground without help.  In an assisted rescue, another person must assist the climber. 

A blending of components may allow an assisted rescue to be performed without the rescuer having to go aloft, which may be more efficient and inherently safer.  For instance, in the above-mentioned scenario of the single-line foot lock, if the access line were to be fastened to the tree in a manner that allowed it to be lowered under tension, and the system included enough rope to lower the climber from any height during the ascent, then a rescuer could lower the climber with diminished risk.

The Systemic Approach

The systematic approach looks holistically at each task or work methodology and seeks to design a system that is not only fail-safe but incorporates a recovery strategy if a component were to fail.  To illustrate the systematic approach, we will use the single-line ascension system mentioned earlier as an example.  We will work under the assertion that all single-line systems should have a backup for the primary.  To start we should incorporate as many safeties and or backups into the new system as necessary and practical until the new component or system proves itself and or the climber is familiar with the safe operation of the total system.    Over time, safeties may be removed or become less frequent as the climber becomes more proficient in using the system.  This is the essence of the systematic approach. 

 A climber new to single-line footlocking wants to learn how the system works.  As in the above example the climber attaches him or herself to the line with a primary and backup.  For familiarization, the climber will also use a second ascender attached lower to the climbing harness at the waist.  Also as the climber advances up the line he or she will stop every ten feet or so and tie an inline loop knot for further safety. What this climber has done is incorporated two extra means of fall arrest should something unexpected happen. The ascender at the waist is a ‘backup,’ and the in-line knots are ‘safeties.’ Both of these are ‘components.’ Each component of a primary or a backup should be rated to handle the climber’s load individually.  

 Should the climber unknowingly reach above the Prussic backup during ascent and cause it to slide down there are two additional means of support on the harness.  If the climber forgets to engage one ascender there is another to provide support.  If all the components fail the in-line knots limit the fall.  

A system of self-rescue should be devised for every new system being either learned or developed.  Without the ability to perform a self-rescue, a system becomes a one-way ticket.  While this may allow the climber to limit the amount of equipment taken aloft, in a testing or training situation, it unnecessarily adds an element of risk that should be avoided. 

Conclusion

For all systems, it is wise to develop a self-rescue system.  During testing and/or familiarization, use a low-risk external rescue system.  Always have another person present who can perform an external rescue. When testing a new primary, have at least one confirmed backup and one safety in place at all times. When testing a new backup be redundant and back it up with a known component, and also use at least one safety in the system.  If the system will allow, test a new backup and a new primary at separate times before you test them together.  

A safe system is easy to operate.   However, keep in mind, the more redundancies that can be incorporated seamlessly into a system, the more fail-safe it is.  Think of it as sculpting with stone.  It’s simple to create a masterpiece, just remove all the stone that does not belong.

It is a case of making the system you are learning more complex and redundant than it needs to be.  As the system improves, as the climber improves, the system, tool, or technique can be stripped down to Its most efficient yet still safe form.

Low and slow is certainly good advice, but it may not be thorough enough.  Innovate, expand, and learn, in a controlled, safe, and systematic manner.  The best ideas appear in a flash of insight, but they continue and are developed with time, patience, and testing.