Description:
This course will provide participants with training and practical use of specialized equipment and techniques employed in technical tree climbing in rope and harness as well as safe rigging techniques used arboricultural operations. Safe work protocols and procedures for technical work at height are identified, explained, demonstrated and practiced.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course attendees will be able to identify hazards involved with tree climbing and rigging , understand the hierarchy of controls used to mitigate these hazards, understand the necessity of documentation involved with climbing and rigging operations, and understanding of the inspection procedures, advantages and limitations of personal protective equipment, as well as arboricultural rigging equipment used all while maintaining and following safe work practices and legislation pertaining to tree climbing and rigging operations, as well as fall protection. Participants will also be educated, coached, and mentored in the applicable forces applied to anchor points, redirects and tie off methods used.
Applicable Standards: This course meets the ANSI / ASSE Z490.1 Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety Health and Environmental Training as well as ANSI Z133, ANSI Z359, and CSA Z259.
Safety, Team Work, Communication, & Risk Assessment
• Integrated site risk assessment and hierarchy of controls, inner and outer perimeter surveys, and green, amber,& red light indicators • Pull testing, establishing work zones and drop zones and communication protocols
• Establishing an emergency action plan and stop work protocol
Personal Protective Apparel & Equipment
• How to inspect, fit and utilize PPA and PPE
• Fall protection categories (arrest, positioning, restrict/restraint, rescue)
• Industrial sit harnesses, connecting links, cordage, and webbing
Tree Work Positioning Assemblies
• Ropes, Lanyards, Tails, Slings, Splices, and Stitches
• Rope construction, standards, application, inspection, storage, and care
• Rope terminology, tree climbing termination knots, splices, and stiches
• Tree Climbing Knots, Bends, and HitchesIdentifying, Establishing and Securing Anchorage points
• Fall protection plan, code and standards, certified and non-certified anchorages
• Canopy and basal anchors, load testing, and friction management
Tree Climbing Tools & Equipment
• Throwline Application, Techniques, and Rope Installation
• Installation and retrieval of friction management devices
• Ascenders, descenders, and other mechanical devices
• Rope tools, slings, and related accessories
Tree Climbing Work Practices
• Moving Rope Systems (MRS) and their performance criteria
• Ergonomics, hydration/nutrition and the industrial athlete
• Ascending, positioning, redirecting and descending
• Spur climbing and choking climbing systems
Physics & Dynamics Involved in Climbing & Rigging Operations
• Anchor point selection and criteria for climbing vs. rigging operations
• Dynamic load vectors, angles of incidence, force, mass, and impact
• Reactive forces and system load analysis and interpretation
• Tree dynamics, system dynamics, force management
Rigging Lines, Slings, & Rope Tools
• Line selection, care and maintenance
• Elasticity, tensile strengths, bend radius, working load, factor of safety
• Slings for balancing and lifting, spider leg balancers
• Compliant interface, terminations and attachments
Knots, Hitches, Prussics, & Terminology
• Bight, bend, loop, turn& round turn, tail, lead, fall, standing parts, working & running end
• Rigging knots and hitches; figure 8, slip knot, cow hitch, timber hitch, running bowline, half hitch, clove hitch, single/double sheet bend, girth hitch, English prussics, French prussics kleimheist and krutzelkleim
• Selecting and matching sling size and construction to rope diameter
Rigging Equipment
• Arborist blocks vs. pulleys, connecting links, selection, care and use
• Hauling / raising systems, mechan