Lowering line as 3rd attachment point?

[Ekka]

Well, here's a good one.

Are you allowed (NAA & ISA etc) to use the lowering rope as an assist to traverse around the tree?

Are you allowed to haul a climber up or lower him down on it?

Are you allowed to hook into it to get more stable?, especially when going up leaders that are angled bad to your high point.

Personally I think yes because I use everything available to me in a tree and the lowering rope is rated higher (hardware included) than the lifeline.

 

[NeTree]

I would agree, as long as it's not also being used to support a load while you're doing it, and the hardware would otherwise comply (weight, autolocks, etc.).

JMHO

 

[Ekka]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that, of course you don't support another load.

Our lowering rope is safe working load (SWL) 1000kg's (based on 16% rule) and pulleys, carabiners, shackles, attachment slings etc all 2000kg + SWL ... so we are easily in the safety zone.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i use the rigging line so as long as i am just using it for positioning and travel; but always while having the safety of my lifeline. Sometimes even speed lining myself down to another point on the rigging line.

 

[xander9727]

Sounds ok to me as long as the additional criteria listed above is met.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I have never done it, but it sounds good to go to me.

Kenn

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Today a piece that was rigged didn't sweep out right and got caught in another tree we were trying to save while taking out 4 pines around it, between houses.

i clip into the tightened rigging line, sometimes with lanyard snap; and pull down on friction hitch. i sometimes jokingly call a speed line a gravity bender, especially in conjunction with a lowering line. So; i descended on my LifeLine; but allowed the rigging line to bend my downward travel to target. The branch must be caught good, per angle and line tension you ride down on, not to just come out of the tree it is lodged in; which can werk for ya too.

Or, something like that.

 

[NickfromWI]

Why not. If you're gonna drop a few hundred pounds in it day in and day out, it oughta hold your measly 150-200lb self!

love
nick

 

[a_lopa]

 

[P_woozel]

Why not. If you're gonna drop a few hundred pounds in it day in and day out, it oughta hold your measly 150-200lb self!

love
nick

My thoughts exactly, though I'm lokking and I havent found anything specific but I'm sure the Arbormaster Primma boys would be against it. :umpkin:

 

[xander9727]

And they matter because????????

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Per z133 there would be no problem for suing it as secondary support. I use a riging line for belay or to winch the climber up, or to move back to the rigging spar, regularly.

Per z133, using a rigging line for sole climber support is prohibited.

Though i do it from time to time.

Let's remember what the Standards are for, to protect the employees from being forced into unsafe practices, and to protect the employer who follows them from gross fines and lawsuits.

They are not laws you have to follow, but standards that companies will be held to if the God Forbid does occur.

 

[J2Tree]

I think there's a time to do any of the 3 options, the only one questionable at all is hauling the climber back up via the lowering line, but I've done that too. Tying into it to get more stability on an overhang, or using it to get around a tree or to traverse, is just another way of ucing your tools at hand to make your job easier.