Autumn 2013

PRO CLIMB Climbing and Training Specialists

Hello Everyone!

As every year we have not managed to

get a summer edition of the Pro Climb

Newsletter sorted. So here is the autumn

edition, or let’s call it the summer/autumn

edition. The Asia Pacific Tree Climbing

Competition was held in Auckland in

March and I would like to congratulate the

winners Jessica Knott from Australia and

Scott Forrest from New Zealand for the

amazing performances. Again the New

Zealand team will be represented by 3

climbers at the International Tree

Climbing Competition that will be held in

Toronto Canada in August this year.

We have been spoiled in the last few

months with new guide-lines for the

climbing arborist.

A Best Practice Guideline for SRT Climbing

from the TCIA has been released and will

definitely create room for more

discussions on the topic. The Department

of Labour has finally published the new

Arboriculture - Approved Code of Practice,

giving us all useful guidance. Let’s hope

that the time invested into these projects

will lead to increased safety and

awareness in our profession in the future.

Climb safe.

Rossy

Save the Dates!

Pro Climb Workshops

Follow the link to visit the Pro Climb public

workshop calendar online or view below.

NZ Arb Association Events

Annual Conference

Queenstown Thu/Fri 24-25 October 2013

NZ National TCC

Queenstown Sat/Sun 26-27 October 2013

Asia Pacific TCC

Auckland Sat/Sun 16-17 March 2013

Auckland Regional TCC

TBA, Auckland

Wellington Regional TCC

TBA, Hawkes Bay

South Island Region TCC

TBA, Christchurch

Waikato/BOP Region

TBA, Hamilton

NTCA Camp (Up North Up Trees)

23 and 24 March 2013

Hackfalls Arbor Camp November 2013

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

GENERAL NEWS

Adding to the Program

GRCS Workshop Following the demand of the industry we have added a specific GRCS (Good

Rigging Control System) workshop to our training program. The new one day workshop covers the necessary know-how for working safely and efficiently with

the GRCS. Read more…

SRT Work Positioning Workshop In the near future Pro Climb will be offering a one day SRT-Work Positioning (SRT-WP) Workshop. This workshop will be offered in-house as well as at public

workshops around the country. This workshop will cover the techniques that are used to safely navigate the tree crown using SRT-WP. On request we can offer an

introduction workshop discussing the pros and cons of SRT-WP devises that are currently available on the market.

“Stay Up To Date” Training Program Pro Climb is offering a unique “stay up to date” program for companies and their

aerial arborist teams. The program is designed to keep tree climbers up to date with new developments in the industry, ensuring safe, productive, and up to date

work practice. The one day training is scheduled once every 6 months covering new developments in aerial rescue, rigging and climbing. We at Pro Climb believe

only by approaching all aspects on the worksite can real safety and productivity be

achieved.

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

Every tree climber is aware of the multiple hazards associated with climbing. There are the handsaw and chainsaw cuts, slips and falls, the possibility of branch and

anchor point failure, the risk of electrocution, swinging and dropping loads, insect and animal attacks, or hazardous weather conditions, just to name a few. The good thing

is we are aware of these hazards and are able to manage them. This allows us to

minimise the risks involved in tree climbing.

Most companies have adopted the practice of doing regular aerial rescue training to ensure that their climbers are

prepared for the event of an emergency. These companies’

internal training sessions almost always reflect the scenario that a

climber needs to assist an injured climber to exit the tree. Many tree

climbers have now adopted the use of access lines to minimise

the time required to perform an aerial rescue. Different to

accidents on the ground where it

can be more appropriate to wait for the emergency services,

injured tree climbers need to be evacuated from the tree canopy

as soon as possible to prevent harm or death through suspension trauma (suspension syncope).

But what if a climber could perform a one handed self-rescue? This would save time

and minimise the risk for others such as the rescue climber. Most climbers have already performed self-

rescues without knowing it, or more correctly, without naming it. The last time you cut your finger with a

handsaw and you descended out of the tree without assistance to get a band aid was a self-rescue. The

important thing when thinking about self-rescue is to use

climbing techniques that will allow you to evacuate out of the tree at any given time. It is even better if the self-

rescue can be performed using one hand only. The one handed self-rescue is so important because injuries to

hands and arms are very common. Using a climbing system that does not allow the climber to descend or

ascend using only one hand can prevent a self-rescue or can increase the time needed to perform an assisted

ARTICLE

How good is your self-rescue plan?

Climbers preforming a basic recue

Traditional climbing system often do not allow for one

handed adjustment.

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

rescue. When using a climbing system that can be operated one handedly, it is most likely that the injured climber will be able to perform a self- rescue as long as he is

conscious. Self-rescue techniques for

tree climbers are as diverse as modern tree climbing. There are two minimum

requirements that a climbing system should meet to allow for self-rescue.

1) The climbing rope should be long

enough to reach the ground from all work positions.

2) The friction hitch system (mechanical

or rope) should allow for one handed adjustment (descend or ascend).

Many climbers today comply with the OSH/DOL regulations to have two points of

attachment when in any work position. The climber will be attached via his

main climbing system and use a lanyard as a secondary attachment in

the work position. This system works well as long as the climber has his main

anchor point above him. It is a different scenario when the climber needs to

dismantle the standing stem while completing a removal. Here often the

climber will use his climbing system as a second lanyard around the stem. The

downside of this technique is if the climber has removed all branches his

second tie-in point will not allow him to

descend to the ground easily. Some climbers cut notches for their main

climbing system into the stem, but there have been numerous accidents with this technique.

The climber should use a secondary

attachment that will allow for a quick and safe descent; this could be done by using an

adjustable friction saver (e.g. rope-guide, pulley-saver or multi-saver). Another

technique is to tie off the working end of the climbing rope around the stem using a

running bowline. The climber can then descend on the running end of the rope

using a mechanical descending device or the

friction hitch system. In order to descend on a single rope with a friction hitch the

A modern climbing system that allows for one handed adjustment.

The Climber is using his climbing rope as a secondary lanyard. In this configuration the climber

has two tie-in points complying with DOL

regulations, but his self-recue options are very limited.

The Climber is using his climbing rope with a rope guide to allow for a quick decent in an

emergency.

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

climber will need to add a friction system like a Munter hitch or a

Figure Eight below their friction hitch

system. The additional friction from the friction device will prevent the

friction hitch from binding up on a single rope. The climber can descend

by grabbing the running end of the rope and the friction hitch at the

same time with one hand. Today more than ever before tree

climbers have the option of using systems that will allow them to

minimise the risk to everyone on the work site. Preforming an aerial

rescue in an emergency situation is no simple task and involves many

risks for the rescuer as well as for the injured. Many climbers could have been saved

after an accident if self-rescue procedures were in place. Self-rescue techniques not only allow for self-rescue, but also support the rescue of an unconscious climber.

Single rope self-rescue technique for stem removals

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

To register, please follow the link to our online booking system or TXT/call Rossy directly. If you would like to receive ISA CEUs for a workshop, please note this on your registration. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries.

Rossy 021 05 04 351 info@proclimb.co.nz

Date Location Workshop Status

Rigging AKL 2013

25.02.2013 or

09.09.2013

Auckland Introduction to Tree Rigging BOOK NOW

26.02.2013 or

10.09.2013

Auckland Advanced Tree Dismantling and Rigging Techniques

BOOK NOW

27.02.2013

or 11.09.2013

Auckland Sky and Speed Lines for Tree Dismantling

and Material Transport

BOOK NOW

Aerial Rescue AKL 2013

28.02.2013

or 12.09.2013

Auckland Self-rescue and Basic Rescue BOOK NOW

01.03.2013 or

13.09.2013

Auckland Complex Aerial Rescues BOOK NOW

Climbing AKL 2013

11-13.03.2013 or

30.9.-02.10.2013

Auckland Introduction to Tree Climbing BOOK NOW

11.03.2013 or

30.09.2013

Auckland Introduction to Modern Tree Climbing BOOK NOW

14.03.2013 or

03.10.2013

Auckland Advanced Tree Climbing Techniques BOOK NOW

15.03.2013 or

04.10.2013

Auckland Introduction to SRT Access (Single Rope Technique)

BOOK NOW

Climbing PN 2013

13.-15.05.2013 Palmerston North Introduction to Tree Climbing BOOK NOW

13.05.2013 Palmerston North Introduction to Modern Tree Climbing BOOK NOW

14.11.2013 Palmerston North Advanced Tree Climbing Techniques BOOK NOW

15.11.2013 Palmerston North Introduction to SRT Access (Single Rope Technique)

BOOK NOW

Rigging PN 2013

11.11.2013 Palmerston North Introduction to Tree Rigging BOOK NOW

12.11.2013 Palmerston North Advanced Tree Dismantling and Rigging

Techniques

BOOK NOW

13.11.2013 Palmerston North Sky and Speed Lines for Tree Dismantling and Material Transport

BOOK NOW

Aerial Rescue PN 2013

16.05.2013 Palmerston North Self-rescue and Basic Rescue BOOK NOW

17.05.2013 Palmerston North Complex Aerial Rescues BOOK NOW

Workshops 2013

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

The EASY RIG is a friction device used in tree work for

lowering tree sections like branches and trunk wood. Pro

Climb designed the EASY RIG to increase productivity and

safety in light weight rigging operations. The EASY RIG is

strong and durable and has a safe working load limit of

500kg (1100Lb). We recommend using polyester double

braided rope with the EASY RIG with a diameter not greater

than 15mm.

Sold exclusively in New Zealand at Treetools

PRODUCT AND SERVICES

WWL: 500KG

Max Rope Diameter: 15 mm

EASY RIG

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

For more information visit our website or contact Andreas (Rossy)

directly at andreas@proclimb.co.nz or 021 0504351

Need a Contract

Climber?

Call 021 050 4351

Pro Climb is a provider of safe and efficient contract climbing solutions. Our client base

ranges from small privately owned tree companies to large corporate infrastructure

businesses. We have specialised in using modern tree climbing and rigging techniques to

utilise a low impact approach towards tree care that machine-focused solutions do not

offer. Our climbers are qualified arborists with a minimum of 5 years climbing experience.

Tree Care Vegetation management

Large tree pruning

Tree removals

Technical rigging

Machine assisted felling

Land clearing operations

Weed eradication on cliff faces

Forestry

Seed collecting

Climbing for research

Climbing for forestry rigging

PRO CLIMB NEWSLETTER Autumn 2013

Picture of the Season

Contact Details: Phone: +64 (0) 21 050 4351

Fax: +64 (0) 9 214 9976

Email: andreas@proclimb.co.nz

Mail Address:

1/7 Bellevue Road

Mt Eden

Auckland 1024

New Zealand

The newsletter’s purpose is to keep you up to date with Pro Climb workshops, arb events, and

interesting articles about rigging and tree climbing. It will be published every 12 weeks. If you don’t

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Important Disclaimer:

The information in this email has been carefully prepared, but has been written in general terms

only. The publication should not be relied upon to provide specific information without also

obtaining appropriate professional advice or training.