This past weekend, Rigging Lab Academy was privileged to spend some time in the beautiful Washington State country with the Volcano Rescue Team; an MRA team responsible for rescues on Mt. Saint Helens. A few months ago the team reached out to RLA inquiring about our ability to deliver a three day course that was […]
Weekend at the Volcano: A Custom Course Focusing on High Angle Rigging Techniques Read More »
My life is about to change The year is 1983 and we all felt super-powered. Each of had an itch to climb something big. We had a few days in our schedule so we figured, like many Portlandia people… hey!, let’s hike up Mt. Hood and ski down. Should be fun and we’d be back
The Greatest Time For A New Opportunity Is When All Other Things Have Failed Read More »
As we all know… a single person can’t win the world. Well, one person did, but other than he, we need a ton of help to shift things. In rescue, culture plays a huge roll as to how systems and techniques play out. Not sure about that statement? Compare climbing, with mountain rescue. Fire service
A Great Product Isn’t For You Unless You Can Define The Problem You Are Solving For Read More »
Hey all, It has been interesting hearing from many of you with respect to the use of “rigging or rescuers winch systems”. We’ve been discussing both the Harken LokHead Winch and Harken Riggers Winch. There seems to be 3 camps… Departments who swear by the 15:1 SSSF and 1/2″ rope only. More adventure-based riggers who
Using A Frame Mounted Winch Should Be An Acceptable Tool… Why Isn’t It? Read More »
Mitigating “edge trauma”, as many call it… is likely the most arduous job of any rigger or rope rescue team. Edge trauma is all about the transition vertical to horizontal terrain (or visa versa). It is difficult and can be dangerous. So it is here the vision and strategy of anchoring and positioning the working
Elevated High Directional Mini Series Part 1-The AHD Overview Read More »
Website https://www.harkenindustrial.com/en/home/ Email Tom.Wood@harken.com Tom Wood Rigging Lab Academy Instructor | Tom Wood is the Industrial Project Manager for Harken Industrial. A 20 year veteran of the Alpine Rescue Team in Evergreen, Colorado, he also serves as a Terrestrial Rescue Delegate to the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) on behalf of the Mountain Rescue
By: Tom Wood We’ve all probably heard this comment, and some of us may have even made this comment ourselves after sitting through a rope rescue or rope access class taught by someone who probably couldn’t teach someone to (properly) tie their own shoes. Well, I think it’s safe to say that like everything else that can
Those Who CAN, Do. Those Who CAN’T, Teach. Read More »
Moving Beyond 10:1 Static System Saftey Factor Moving Beyond 10:1 SSSF Introducing Force Limiting Systems and Managing the Right Risk at the Right Time ITRS 2014 By: Kirk Mauthner, British Columbia, Canada, kirk.mauthner@gmail.com Abstract: Most rope rescuers are aware or familiar with the concept of applying a safety factor – such as 10:1 – to
Moving Beyond 10:1 Static System Safety Factor Read More »
This sequence takes a page out of the nautical use of block and tackle hauling systems. By reeving double sheave pulley in the manner described here, the practitioner will acquire valuable skills in building a more efficient pulley system. The way we address knots, MAs (Mechanical Advantages), and Anchors in these videos are more general
The Bowline is a time honored knot that continues to serve well, not only in the mariner industry, but also in construction. Some of the excellent attributes of the Bowline, such as small gain and the ability to untie after a heavy load is very suitable for rescue as well. There are many variations on the Bowline
Bowline Knots | Knots & Pulleys in Rope Rigging Systems Vol. 1 Segment 4 – Rigging Lab Read More »
