Jomoco ... it sounds like you are saying that you should not tie in above the hook because you will spin around the load line. Will the spinning stop if you are tied to the hook?
Hey there Wood chux,
I have strenuously argued this point with not only many members here at AS, but also the very experts sitting on the ANSI committee responsible for it's current guide lines.
On the phone with these experts, each of them concede the logic of my technique over their written guide lines, it seems that a few of them have seen or experienced first hand the direct results tying in above the ball when the crane line comes under load, spun tangled climbing lines in relation to nice straight rigging load lines attached on the hook.
It all boils down to the committee members being afraid that the average joe climber doesn't possess enough experience to ensure that the crane hook has a locking gate, number 1, or that he has the sense to use heavy duty locked clevis' on the hook to ensure separation (damage or severing) between rigging load line from the vulnerable body line attachment.
Below is the actual letter I sent to each ANSI committee member that deals with crane use guide lines in the tree industry, with the names redacted.
My fellow tree industry associates,
The ambiguity of the current ANSI Z133 standards for crane use in the tree industry are in my opinion unnecessarily confusing and frustrating to a large degree.
Current OSHA standards for cranes that lift personnel in man baskets located in the rigging section of 5004 clearly state that all crane hooks shall have a positive locking device on the hook gate to prevent accidents.
This is a clearly stated easy to understand Osha regulation that warrants emulation in the ANSI Z133 section for safe crane use in the tree industry.
The current Z standards fuzzy language about tying in above the ball with a shackle for the climbing line and a lanyard in the hook is in effect impractical, frustrating and to some degree hazardous.
Crane hook and block assemblies incorporate a swivel mechanism for a very good reason, to keep their loads from spinning when the twisted wire rope cable comes under any degree of load as they always do. The swivel mechanisn prevents this spinning action from transferring to the hook and load being lifted to a large degree.
If a climber is tied in above the ball and snugs up the rigging he sets on the pick, the ball and cable will spin, this results in his climbing line tangling at that point, he loses time and experiences frustration untangling his primary support line.
By adopting the current OSHA standard for man basket attachment that requires a positive locking hook gate, and applying it to the ANSI Z standard with the simple proviso that a locking shackle or closed solid loop ( both of which are currently available on the market ) be used on the locked hook to seperate his primary support line from any possible damage by the rigging hardware on the hook.
Adopting this method and putting it in clear ( shall ) language in the Z standards will enhance safety, facilitate easy understanding and lessen frustration for the professionals in our industry that go out of their way to play by the rules.
It is further my opinion that any crane being used in tree operations, whether hoisting personnel or not shall have a locking hook gate to prevent rigging hardware from inadvertently coming off the hook and injuring personnel below, be it climber or groundmen.
Your thoughts and feedback on adopting these safety measures would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
XXX XXXXXXX
33 year tree industry veteran
Think about it for a bit, I'm very interested in the opinions of my fellow arborists on this apparently highly debatable issue.
jomoco
opcorn:
