Keeping mine, they don't bother me at all and a couple more straps to shear off prior to the dirt dive.
I will keep mine on. We are already accepting a lot of risk with what we do.
A better way to look at those stats is bout 1 death per 100 million miles driven.I disagree the most risk I accept is the drive to the location, you might have perceived risk but as long as your using your gear appropriately climbing isn't that hazardous (some methods more than others). It's when you cut corners (or things off your harness ) or get complicate or cocky that it becomes dangerous. Many many people climb passed the 48ft (~4 stories, ~50% chance of fatality if fall occurs) everyday for work, and many of those passed 7 stories or ~75ft where 90% chance of death. Now yes the more things you do that have a higher risk the higher you overall risk.
From the CDC:
Unintentional fall deaths
Motor vehicle traffic deaths
- Number of deaths: 37,455
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 11.4
Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2018) via CDC WONDER
- Number of deaths: 37,991
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 11.6
Of course not as many people climbing as driving cars as climbing things but many of these falls are not in situations where people commonly wear fall prevention gear (hindsight is 20/20).
OSHA shines more light on work related fatalities were people are expected to be doing the right thing, at least by OSHA.
4180 deaths with the keyword filter fall between 2017-2020 still not all of these are falls, as "worker killed by falling tree", "killed by falling object", and someone "falling out of their chair" still makes the filter, i guess that last one counts.
https://www.osha.gov/fatalities
Point is if you climb and use your fall protection it is pretty safe.
A better way to look at those stats is bout 1 death per 100 million miles driven.
And 1000% those are NOT the examples to point toward for fall hazards. The solution is not as simple as "use your protection", and this is really important!
There are 2-3 key reasons for this:
Looking specifically to Arborists and rock climbing is a more appropriate comparison. Arborists apparently are around 40 deaths/100k (per https://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/article-on-americas-most-dangerous-jobs.3032/ ). Rock climbing is approximately as safe as you make it.
- Workplace fall protection protocols almost always include multiple individuals present to provide "rescue"
- Most workplaces are more highly controlled than a tree in the woods
- Very few saddle hunters are carrying/using "fall protection"
Almost everyone is relying on relatively short lengths of static rope, with no shock absorption, in saddle/waist-belt type of setup. If not very diligent regarding the risks and limitations associated with these devices, it is exceptionally easy to put yourself in position for a backbreaking fall while "using your protection".
The message needs to be more about using your equipment correctly and with the proper expectations. What you can and can't expect from a lineman's belt. What it takes to keep forces within an acceptable range when connected at the waist with static lines.
"Use your protection" as advice is just an invitation for people to misuse equipment and get overconfident. We're not in an environment where we can just clip in and be done with it.
Ya know I've never done that.I think people here are overestimating the possiblity that your belt that is sinched tight and with pressure on it is going to go all the way up to your pits. When we first get our saddle we all do the till upside thing and im sure none of our saddles slipped off our legs.
I think people here are overestimating the possiblity that your belt that is sinched tight and with pressure on it is going to go all the way up to your pits. When we first get our saddle we all do the till upside thing and im sure none of our saddles slipped off our legs.
A better way to look at those stats is bout 1 death per 100 million miles driven.
And 1000% those are NOT the examples to point toward for fall hazards. The solution is not as simple as "use your protection", and this is really important!
There are 2-3 key reasons for this:
Looking specifically to Arborists and rock climbing is a more appropriate comparison. Arborists apparently are around 40 deaths/100k (per https://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/article-on-americas-most-dangerous-jobs.3032/ ). Rock climbing is approximately as safe as you make it.
- Workplace fall protection protocols almost always include multiple individuals present to provide "rescue"
- Most workplaces are more highly controlled than a tree in the woods
- Very few saddle hunters are carrying/using "fall protection"
Almost everyone is relying on relatively short lengths of static rope, with no shock absorption, in saddle/waist-belt type of setup. If not very diligent regarding the risks and limitations associated with these devices, it is exceptionally easy to put yourself in position for a backbreaking fall while "using your protection".
The message needs to be more about using your equipment correctly and with the proper expectations. What you can and can't expect from a lineman's belt. What it takes to keep forces within an acceptable range when connected at the waist with static lines.
"Use your protection" as advice is just an invitation for people to misuse equipment and get overconfident. We're not in an environment where we can just clip in and be done with it.
Nah, we have arms/shoulders.I think some people are relying upon their beer gut to save them! (referring to people with flat stomachs as twigs, LOL).
Nah, we have arms/shoulders.
None of our equipment is designed to take a fall. I don't think a gut would change that.I hope you are joking. The old harnesses that just went around the waist (sent out with tree stands and just 2 loops joined with a tether) are now seen as death traps because in a hard fall your ribs can compress/break (much easier than pelvis) and then the tight belt is pulled up over your rib cage which needs to expand to breath. You are then left in this hobbled state, near asphyxiation, and you are expected to self rescue or call for help with your phone. Funny that no one with a lick of sense volunteers to take a decent fall in these circumstances.
None of our equipment is designed to take a fall. I don't think a gut would change that.