Replying in real time as I watch:
- he says the lineman's belt is going to save you. A lineman's belt will NOT save you. Thinking this is deadly.
- most likely your LB will grab the stick and you'll stop falling. Thinking this is deadly.
- speaking about slack in LB, what he means is "distance of connection from tree", and it's relation to whether or not it will "bite" and "hold" you. It will not hold you, regardless of "slack" in the LB if you fall. Thinking this is deadly.
- talking about the lineman's belt with the implication it is a fall arrest device. It is a fall prevention device. Thinking otherwise is deadly.
- another instance of "it will catch the stick step and stop you" ..... literally as he attempts to show this, the rope falls past the step, and he has to pick it back up and set it above the step for the "catch". Thinking a lb will catch you in a fall is deadly.
- he says "at worst, it will bite and smash you into tree repeatedly on the way down, but slow you down so you won't break bones". This is not true. Thinking so is deadly.
- he says a LB will prevent you from having a broken back, or end up in a wheelchair. Thinking this is deadly.
- he says that you will "naturally grab on to things like sticks in front of you to stop you from falling". This is not true. Thinking so is deadly.
- he says there are myths about needing a tether or 2 lineman's belts to climb safely. That a single LB will do it's job and you don't need those things. Show me a single qualified climbing instructor, instruction manual, guideline, etc. that agrees with this statement. Thinking this is deadly.
- his literal first step up on the stick, he demonstrates poor technique with the belt, allowing it to be below his connection point, and have the "slack" he talks about being wrong the whole video. This is in his attempt to show that a tether attached above him won't save his life. Climbing this way is deadly.
- in his attempt to show why a lineman's belt is a useful tool, he says that a tether(tranlation - fall arrest device) would not prevent you from getting ripped up by climbing sticks. using a false equivalence to demonstrate why a LB is useful is deadly.
- he says that a tether is good. But that it is not a replacement for a lineman's belt. The implication is that the LB is the appropriate device for protecting you while climbing, and that a tether is not needed. Further implication is that it acts as a fall arrest. Thinking this is deadly.
- he says that a LB is the fastest way to lock you to the tree and keep you from moving far. I'll be generous and assume he means "maintain 4 points of contact so that you can be balanced and work hands free". But if he means "this will stop you from falling", believing him is deadly.
- another "worst case scenario, it will slow you down enough to not break your spine". Thinking this is deadly.
- around this point (9:30), his brain subconsciously switches to including the tether in his assessment of safety. I'm not sure what's happening now.
- He says that with the LB below his connection points, he'll have a 3' fall before he comes in contact with the tree. While this may be true, and I don't necessarily disagree with the general point, it comes in direct conflict with what he's been saying the whole time - that the LB, and you, will hit sticks on way down, preventing you from falling further. This confusion and cognitive dissonance is deadly.
- he says he chose a tree specifically because the bark provides friction to keep the LB in place even when it isn't under tension. ok.....
- he says the LB will hold you and keep you safe. Which is the purpose of the device. Thinking this is deadly.
- again, he demonstrates poor technique with LB. This is not one of his attempts to show bad things, but just climbing.
- he mentions that he has a torn up knee, and is climbing trees. This seems like a bad example to set for people.
- he says that disconnecting LB to go over a branch is a dangerous move because he's been disconnected. The implication is that the LB is a fall arrest device. Thinking this is deadly.
- he says "keep in mind, i'm right on the ground" as he climbs up. Again, he's saying the LB is a fall arrest device, and he's just disconnected it to climb up. He's wrong, but staying with his line of reasoning, let's say it is fall arrest, he's disconnected it, and is only 4' off the ground. Do the math on how much force a 200lb person will be subjected to when hitting the ground in freefall from 48" up. Thinking this is safe is deadly.
- he says a second lineman's belt to go around branches with, is a lot of work. and that doing the same thing with a tether is less work. I think he means that you already have a tether, so use it. The implication here, again, is that the LB and Tether are both interchangeable and are both fall arrest devices. Thinking this is deadly.
- He literally spends two minutes talking about how connecting the tether in conjunction with the LB is redundant and not necessary and how it won't protect you in any way in the beginning of the video. Then he completely flips and says it is the best way to go around branches because you're now protected. This cognitive dissonance is deadly.
- he lengthens the LB, and says that "this. bad." saying that the extra "slack" will cause you to fall a long way. Once again, the implication is that the device is for fall arrest, and by being further from the tree, you're running risk it won't stop you appropriately. Thinking this is deadly.
- he then tightens the LB, and says if you keep it tight you can't fall. Leaving aside the false implications of the LB being a fall arrest device, he's pulled himself so close to the tree, no work could be done, rendering the LB useless for it's actual purpose. Thinking the LB is a fall arrest device is deadly.
- this is me picking nits. But it shows how we end up in this weird place. The fellow says he came up with using a progress capture device for LB adjustment with one hand 20 years ago. Ok....
- he says you have to get up the tree to attach your tether (he refers to it as a lifeline). And to do so you need the LB, again with the implication that it is a fall arrest device. THinking this is deadly.
- he then contradicts himself once again, by including the tether (lifeline, lanyard) as part of the system to be able to climb safely. Ok....
- Finally, something useful and not completely contradictory!!!!!! He mentions always having 3 points of contact. This is good. It also makes the last 15 minutes of things that he's said completely contradictory. Why? Because the LB acts as a point of contact, so you can work hands free. Because it is a fall prevention device(aka work positioning lanyard). Saying this right out of the gate, and leaving all the falsities and contradictions out would be much better for the viewers.
- he makes a comment on the stick being too high for the demonstration, because it wouldn't allow him proper use of LB and maintaining 3 points of contact. Even though we all know that this is very likely how he actually climbs.
- in showing why 3 points of contact is important - his foot slips, and he has two hands holding the stick, his LB goes completely slack, falling to the ground. This completely refutes the entire point he makes for 15 minutes, which is that the LB will arrest a fall. Thinking it will is deadly.
- he says that he'll be able to hold his weight with just his arms after falling. Maybe, but looking at him, I doubt it. All of this is besides the point - it again implies the LB, which just fell completely slack, is his fall arrest device, will stop him. Or that 3 points of contact will stop him from falling. It won't. The concept is intended to assist in fall prevention. Once you're falling though, it doesn't matter how many points of contact you had prior. Fall prevention devices and concepts aid in fall prevention. Fall arrest devices are intended to arrest a fall. Getting these concepts, and tools, and systems confused is deadly.
- he says emphatically that a lineman's belt, aka work positioning lanyard, aka fall prevention device will keep you from being paralyzed or having a broken back. Thinking this is deadly.
- At least he ends the video once again emphasizing 3 points of contact.
Note* - I have not said what TO DO. I am not qualified to do so. Neither is this guy. I can't think of a worse video to show people on how and why to use a lineman's belt.
no offense
@LAKY - my ire is directed at youtube, and the maker of the video.
