Fall Safety Archives

Cross Haul Techniques for Rescue and Equipment Movement

Lance Piatt / Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Fall Safety, Rope Access and Working At Height, Uncategorized

Cross hauling is a controlled horizontal movement technique used to transport loads—such as a patient litter, heavy gear, or suspended equipment—between two points using independent hauling and lowering systems. The method relies on coordination between two rescuers or teams operating from opposite anchors, each managing their side’s tension to maintain balance and stability. When executed […]

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Lead Climbing and Bypass Lanyard Techniques

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety

Lead Climbing and Bypass Lanyard Techniques Lead Climbing and Bypass Lanyard Techniques within vertical or horizontal movement are equal. In some operations, a climber creates their own protection as they ascend—this is lead climbing. In others, the path is pre-built, and the focus is on maintaining continuous attachment—this is where the bypass lanyard becomes essential.

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Fall Arrest Systems and Fall Factor

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety

Fall Arrest Systems and Fall Factor When hazard mitigation and travel restraint are not feasible—such as in vertical rescue scenarios or rope access on exposed structures—fall arrest systems become the last line of defense. These systems must not only stop a fall in progress but do so without causing serious injury to the worker or

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Travel Restraint and Fall Risk Mitigation

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety

Travel Restraint and Fall Risk Mitigation Before we talk about stopping a fall, we have to ask: Did we do everything we could to prevent it? Fall protection is often treated as a reactive solution—but in rope rescue and rope access, our first responsibility is mitigation. This begins with understanding when travel restraint systems can

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Fall Protection in Rope Rescue

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety

Fall Protection in Rope Rescue When your job takes you into vertical environments—tower climbing, rope access, scaffolding, or rescue—fall protection is non-negotiable. But not all fall-related systems are created equal. Understanding the distinctions between fall protection, fall arrest, and travel restraint is a cornerstone of both safety and operational competency. This series aligns with NFPA

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Rooftop Rescue Rope Systems for Firefighters

Lance Piatt / Blog, Equipment, Fall Safety, General Rigging, Mainline Systems and Operations

Navigating Rescue Rope Selection for Firefighters: From Rooftops to General Operations Introduction Firefighting is a profession where every decision can impact lives, including the tools and equipment chosen for critical operations. Among these, rescue ropes are vital, serving as lifelines in rooftop rescues, fall protection, and general fireground tasks. Selecting the right rope isn’t just

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TIBLOC for Taut Rope Progression

Lance Piatt / Ascend - Descend, Belaying, Blog, Fall Safety

Understanding Progression with a Taut Rope Progression with a taut rope involves partners climbing simultaneously, connected by a rope under tension. While this method can save time in “easy” terrain, it comes with inherent dangers, including the potential for one climber’s fall to affect the other. The TIBLOC serves as an auxiliary tool to limit

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tower rescue for rope rescue technicians

Tower Rescue in the Rope Rescue Industry

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety, Tom Wood

Tower rescue is a specialized discipline within the rope rescue industry, focusing on safely evacuating individuals from tall structures such as communication towers, wind turbines, and other elevated platforms. This type of rescue demands advanced skills, specific equipment, and a thorough understanding of various rescue techniques due to the unique challenges posed by these structures.

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Unlocking Rope Edge Safety

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Fall Safety, General Rigging, Leadership, Safe Practices

In the dynamic environments of the fire service and search and rescue operations, ensuring the safety of our responders is paramount. Among the critical considerations in these high-risk scenarios is the protection of the rope edge – the lifeline that connects our technicians to safety and facilitates successful rescues. Rope rescue edge protections encompass a

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Highlines in Rope Rescue and Life

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Equipment, Fall Safety, General Rigging, Safe Practices, Team Competencies, Technical Learning

Highlines in Rope Rescue and Life: Finding Balance and Mastery Highline systems in rope rescue offer a unique and powerful metaphor for the challenges we face in life. These systems, carefully designed to bridge daunting gaps and navigate treacherous terrain, parallel the trials we encounter daily, requiring precision, courage, and balance. Highlines as a

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ASAP Lock Vertical Lifeline

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety, How-To Concepts, Industry

How to Use the ASAP Lock on a Vertical Lifeline in a Sloped Roof Application Working on sloped roofs—whether for solar panel installations, roof inspections, or snow removal—requires specialized safety equipment and proper technique. The Petzl ASAP Lock Vertical Lifeline System is a reliable fall arrest solution, designed to provide both safety and efficiency. This

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Learn How to Use ASAP Mobile Fall Arresters

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety, Horizontal Rigging, Industry, Petzl / 53 Comments

Learn How to Use the ASAP Mobile Fall Arresters Mobile fall arresters, such as the ASAP and ASAP LOCK, are essential safety tools for professionals working at height. Installed on a safety rope, these devices automatically follow the user on vertical or inclined surfaces. In the event of a sudden acceleration or shock load, they

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Securing the PETZL MAESTRO with an ASAP for training.

Lance Piatt / Belaying, Blog, Fall Safety / 7 Comments

Securing the Petzl MAESTRO with an ASAP for Training In certain training or educational situations, managing excessive descent speed or loss of control is crucial for safety. The Petzl MAESTRO provides excellent control, but improper use or excessive pull on its handle can result in loss of control, especially in high-tension systems. To mitigate this,

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Understanding ANSI Z459.1 and Twin Tensioned Systems

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety, General Rigging, Rope Access and Working At Height, Safe Practices / 34 Comments

ANSI Z459.1 and Twin Tensioned Systems: Clarifying Misconceptions The ANSI Z459.1 standard, introduced as part of the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code, aims to provide clear guidance on rope access systems. However, misconceptions have arisen regarding the standard’s interpretation, particularly concerning the use of two descenders on a single connection point. This article aims to

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Aerial Work Platforms

Lance Piatt / Blog, Equipment, Fall Safety, Petzl / 26 Comments

Aerial Work Platforms: Expanding Access at Heights Aerial work platforms (AWPs) have revolutionized how we approach challenging work at heights, enabling access to otherwise unreachable areas. While rope techniques remain essential for many industries, platforms like telescopic boom lifts and portable cranes are transforming work efficiency and safety. This blog explores insights from Loc’Nacelle, a

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Choice of Petzl Lanyard and Carabiner for Fall Arrest

Lance Piatt / Blog, Carabiners Rescue Safety Rigging, Fall Safety, Petzl / 10 Comments

Choice of Petzl Lanyard and Carabiner for a Fall Arrest Lanyard Fall arrest lanyards are essential for worker safety at height. Choosing the right lanyard and carabiner combination is critical to ensure the system performs as expected during a fall. Proper selection minimizes risks, ensures secure attachment, and allows for efficient movement across various anchors.

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How the Petzl Croll Works

Lance Piatt / Blog, Fall Safety / 4 Comments

How the Petzl Croll Works The Petzl Croll is primarily used as part of an ascending system, often paired with tools like the Petzl ASCENSION (handled ascender) and a foot loop. This combination allows for efficient upward movement on a static rope. Step-by-Step Operation Attachment: Attach the Croll to the rope and secure it using

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Fall Safety

Cross Haul Techniques for Rescue and Equipment Movement

Lead Climbing and Bypass Lanyard Techniques

Fall Arrest Systems and Fall Factor

Travel Restraint and Fall Risk Mitigation

Fall Protection in Rope Rescue

Rooftop Rescue Rope Systems for Firefighters

TIBLOC for Taut Rope Progression

Tower Rescue in the Rope Rescue Industry

Unlocking Rope Edge Safety

Highlines in Rope Rescue and Life

ASAP Lock Vertical Lifeline

Learn How to Use ASAP Mobile Fall Arresters

Securing the PETZL MAESTRO with an ASAP for training.

Understanding ANSI Z459.1 and Twin Tensioned Systems

Aerial Work Platforms

Choice of Petzl Lanyard and Carabiner for Fall Arrest

How the Petzl Croll Works

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