The Dangers of Short Static Falls

[kyler1945]

Several years ago I decided to "test" a HSS vest by stepping off a stand just a few feet off the ground. The total fall was maybe 18"....

If a person could bottle pure violence and unleash it at will falling would rival it. I figured out right then that I want nothing to do with falling for real.

Ever.

bumping this post.

 

[Fairchild#17]

Good point. I can see using it that way. Not a bad idea at all

Maybe this. As short as 16"

10.5mm Decelerator Dynamic Lanyard - BlueWater Ropes

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[GetHomeSafe]

Assess your worst case slack in your safety line throughout your climb. Know the ratings of your equipment. Then use this: https://ferforge.tripod.com/Srt002.htm

 

[mattsteg]

Assess your worst case slack in your safety line throughout your climb. Know the ratings of your equipment. Then use this: https://ferforge.tripod.com/Srt002.htm

Know the rating of YOU. You break first.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

Know the rating of YOU. You break first.

Here is a rating for the human body and rated well for a saddle hunter as we are supported around the pelvis.
Note: Amphoux, Brinkley and others proved that when the shock load is applied to the body via the pelvic bone and the force is directed upwards along the spine — our body can tolerate 6 or 8 kN without an injury.

So make the most accurate estimate or your worst case slack while climbing and run the fall factor calculator. Single sticking in particular, especially as done by some, at times, allows a lot of slack in safety line. Hope this helps. Stay safe. God Bless.

 

[raisins]

Assess your worst case slack in your safety line throughout your climb. Know the ratings of your equipment. Then use this: https://ferforge.tripod.com/Srt002.htm

Thanks for posting that. You can insert negative numbers for Distance from last anchor.

For instance, if my rope is at my waist and I attach tether as high as I can reach, I'll low ball it at 4 feet as length of rope. My steps are 2 feet separated, so if I fall at height of step, then my Distance is -2 feet, which gives a 0.5 fall factor. Good reminder to tether high if using it while climbing and move tether as you climb.

It seems it really helps to go to a dynamic rope because any give is better than no give, even on short ropes.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

Thanks for posting that. You can insert negative numbers for Distance from last anchor.

For instance, if my rope is at my waist and I attach tether as high as I can reach, I'll low ball it at 4 feet as length of rope. My steps are 2 feet separated, so if I fall at height of step, then my Distance is -2 feet, which gives a 0.5 fall factor. Good reminder to tether high if using it while climbing and move tether as you climb.

It seems it really helps to go to a dynamic rope because any give is better than no give, even on short ropes.

I am with you if you are 2' above your anchor, with just enough slack to reach your current postition, if you fall, the fall is 4'.

 

[mattsteg]

Here is a rating for the human body and rated well for a saddle hunter as we are supported around the pelvis.
Note: Amphoux, Brinkley and others proved that when the shock load is applied to the body via the pelvic bone and the force is directed upwards along the spine — our body can tolerate 6 or 8 kN without an injury.

So make the most accurate estimate or your worst case slack while climbing and run the fall factor calculator. Single sticking in particular, especially as done by some, at times, allows a lot of slack in safety line. Hope this helps. Stay safe. God Bless.

That's more than what I'd want to experience, and there's no guarantee that loading doesn't end up in a worse (spine cracking) orientation.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

Ok so which scenario is worse? ...
.
1. You are standing on a stick. Only your tether is connected and you have 1' of slack in the system. The stick fails and gives way.

2. You are standing on a stick. Only your lineman belt is connected. The stick fails and gives way.

Thoughts?

Being I live in NW WI and spurs are legal on nearly all public land in WI, I know from experience. Every once in a while even with a very experienced spur climber a spur will slip out and you "fall" onto the tree when your lineman rope grabs you. It does not hurt at all if your using spurs and your rope properly you fall about 6". I have had friends fall on sticks, all I can say is don't if you can help it. A foot fall onto a stick can be bad. They protrude from the tree they have sharp edges. Usually it is groin and or jaw injuries. Many times involving stitches. God forbid you nick your femoral artery. The stick slipping away due to failure is probably better than falling on the stick.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

I'm glad to find someone thinking of what I only just discovered. I experimented with both and came up with this; When my tether has any slack, my LB has tension. If my tether is loaded I will loosen or remove my LB in order to make stick moves. My thoughts are, a loaded tether is far safer that a slacked tether and LB. I'll also snug my tether as I ascend my stick while making my climb, until I can't any more, at which point I'll snug my LB, move up my tether and start again.

Way to go...Keep your ropes tight. Less slack is better.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

I had a short static fall just yesterday. I had a dang dead tree right in the wrong spot. I grabbed hold and gave it my best yank when it released its hold on the ground and drove me to a 3 foot static fall flat on my back. A little sore this morning.... should have tether'd in just not exactly sure what i would have anchored to.

Ouch, glad your OK. Thank God.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

I wish i would have studied harder in school, this stuff is way over my head. I use wildege stepps as my platform, i have never come close to falling off them.

You can do it right a 1000 times. Earns no interest. Only takes once. I hope you never fall. But as you climb work at ways to keep any slack to a minimum. That is the key if you do fall, I hope you don't.

 

[2Sloe]

Ok so which scenario is worse? ...

1. You are standing on a stick. Only your tether is connected and you have 1' of slack in the system. The stick fails and gives way.

2. You are standing on a stick. Only your lineman belt is connected. The stick fails and gives way.

Thoughts?

It depends on how much slack you have in your LB. I’ve seen videos of guy with enough “slack” in their LB that would give them a much greater drop than two feet. Either way, the drop isn’t going to be comfortable, but you probably aren’t going to die.

 

[_Dario]

This is a really great discussion and one that covers most of the topics I wanted to hit in my ultimate tether thread. Bumping this so that other folks have an opportunity to read up on something they may have been taking for granted picking up the one stick method in the last year. With all of the recent YouTube videos coming out that show nothing but the benefits of one sticking - there is no free lunch.

 

[Petrichor]

Wow. Sobering.

 

[Islandshooter]

I would say #2 is better since it will slide some and wouldn’t be a static shock load. However you may slide into other sticks, etc., but I think a 1 foot shock load is worse than some scrapes and bruises.

“This is my unqualified opinion”

Spencer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My unqualified opinion would be to ask flcanopystalker this same question…think he has some insight into this exact scenario. Not that it happened to him, just that he recently related a like situation to me. I’ll be focusing on my linesman rope positioning BERY intently this season.

 

[GetHomeSafe]

I guess this kind of pertains to this but I have a question that I might already know the answer to.
I use the “Kaine method” of climbing with WE stepps but instead of using the strap thing he uses to clip onto the WE steps (then steps up the tree), I use the adjustable aider to clip to the next step. I clip my carabiner for my tether into where your foot goes and adjust it where it’s fairly tight, then grab onto the step above my head, put my foot into the tree and pull myself up. I feel safe doing this and honestly I feel more in control without the lineman’s belt but if I were to fall, would that aider break me in half? Thoughts.

So you fall would be into about 18" of slack? Plug your info in here and see what you think. https://ferforge.tripod.com/Srt002.htm

 

[tarafrost]

Anyone using a Kong Kisa instead of a screamer? EWO sells them.....

Pros/Cons vs a screamer, besides the Kisa being reusable?

 

[Boog]

Never tried a screamer, but I've been using the Kong KISA the last two seasons. The only drawback for me is adjustment to the tree size when you start out. It takes a little effort to loosen the rope so you can move the KISA. The peace of mind is worth the hassle for me. I tested the KISA when I first got it by jumping off a 55 gallon drum (about a 2-3 foot fall before the rope caught me). The rope slid through the KISA about a foot and a half before stopping my fall. Very comfortable - no abrupt jolt. My tether is Samson Predator (11.4 mm). I only thread through three holes for the desired level of friction. I switch over to my rappel line once at height. The system works well for me.

Here's a link to a thread I started a while back on the KISA:

Kong KISA energy absorber for one-stick climbing

After reading the thread on "The dangers of short, static falls," I started looking into energy absorbers (ripstops an screamers). Along the way I ran across the Kong KISA, an energy absorber that works by friction on the rope rather than threads pulling apart. I decided to give one a try...

saddlehunter.com

 

[Earlybird31]

I have a Koog KISA and would like to use it, but I'm having a hard time getting my 9 mm rope (Canyon-IV) to thread through the last hole. The last hole appears to be slightly smaller, but it could be my imagination. The device recommends three loops with the rope for 9 mm but I can only get two. I may need to cut the end and re-seal it after passing it through.