Adjustable lanyard
The work-positioning lanyard , pole belt or flip-line is a key tool for tree climbing . It is an essential part of spur climbing , as a point of attachment whilst cutting , to help maintain good work position , and to move around the crown of the tree .
Ensure that lanyards are always used with a stopper knot or back splice to prevent the climber from accidentally sliding their adjustor straight off the end of the lanyard .
Lanyards can be either rope or steel-core ; rescuers should ensure that they select the right lanyard type and length for the right purpose .
Steel-core lanyards : Rope lanyards :
• Will be easier to advance when spur climbing , particularly on large or roughbarked trees . The additional ‘ stiffness ’ of the steel core will help avoid the lanyard getting stuck under bark or hooked up on small obstacles .
• Offer a small amount of additional protection to being cut . A running chainsaw will still go through a tensioned steel-core lanyard with almost no resistance .
• Have better ‘ knotability ’.
• Are lighter .
• Are more flexible and can be used in more situations and configurations than steel-core lanyards . For example , it is easy to construct a short haul system ( 2:1 or 3:1 ) out of a rope lanyard but less easy when using a steel lanyard .
• Are not suitable for use when climbing near live electrical conductors .
There are two main ways to configure a climbing lanyard :
As a point of attachment connected from Side-D to Side-D of the harness .
This configuration is used whilst spur climbing , when tying in whilst branch walking or when attaching to upright stems .
Both the working end and the adjustor can also be attached to the central attachment point of the rescuer ’ s harness , creating a short adjustable MRT system .
This configuration is used when suspended below a branch , or to advance a small distance up the tree whilst transitioning between attachment points .
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