What to Look Out for in Climbing Harnesses
Without a doubt, one of the most critical pieces of equipment for a climber – following closely on the heels of quality personal protective equipment (PPE) – is the harness or saddle they choose. Sometimes described as your home in the tree, the proper harness ensures your comfort as you move about in the canopy […]
Climbing Rope Selection – It’s Your Life on the Line
Criteria for selecting climbing rope is similar to that of rigging rope (“Ins & Outs, Ups & Downs of Rigging Rope,” TCI Magazine, July 2020) in that it all boils down to application and use. “When I started climbing, rope selection was easy. There was one choice; it was a multi-plait rope that was one […]
What Is in Your First-Aid Kit?
We are not talking about the first-aid kit you carry in your truck to the job site. We are talking about the first-aid kit you carry aloft. Some safety standards in other countries recommend that climbers carry a first-aid kit with them. The Z133 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations (2017) does not address this, but […]
Climbing Gear: A Growing Risk to Tree Companies
Tree-climbing gear used to be so simple – a leather-and-webbing harness with buckles and heavy steel D-rings, a wire-core flip line and spikes. Maybe even a climbing rope. The good old days, indeed. Today, it seems like a new climbing contraption shows up each week. Everything feels expensive. We have specialty tools that range from […]
Biomechanics for Tree Climbers
This story starts as many stories do, with a life-changing incident. But it is really about body mechanics. In 2007, I (Phil Kelley) had a lead fail under me while doing a large crane removal. I was at the end of the lowest limb of a 66-inch DBH (diameter-at-breast-height) water oak, so when the lead […]