Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
wildone
climber
GHOST TOWN
|
|
|
Dec 30, 2009 - 05:22pm PT
|
I never get to use a dummy during assessment. Makes no difference to the rescuer, but when it's your turn to be rescued...Well, lets just say your neck and nether region are not loving you.
|
|
beef supreme
climber
the west
|
|
|
Dec 30, 2009 - 07:04pm PT
|
Hey RiggAccess- thanks for the info. I've contacted a few training companies here so we'll see where it goes.
|
|
Gene Pool
Trad climber
A trailer park in Santa Cruz
|
|
|
Dec 30, 2009 - 10:28pm PT
|
I took over for Peter Carrick (after 5 years in the field as a wind turbine rope access tech) as the rope access trainer/safety guy when he left Rope Partner. Working on the wind farms is nice work, but some of the towns you spend time in are pretty boring. The best jobs like Hawaii, Mexico, the Canadian Maritimes, Davis West Virginia, and Hood River do come about once or twice a year if you are lucky. Basically it is good ole blue collar work in a nice setting.
With entertainment rigging so slow, there are a lot of applications coming in the door, but the opportunities are there for people who want it for the long term. The travel can be hard, but it is great way to get into a fast growing industry, make decent money, and not work all the time. We have a number of folks who hit up Patagonia during the slower Winter months. If you have a family and a mortgage, getting a full time turbine tech job might be more up your alley - but that will definitely cramp your ability to take time off.
I actually got interviewed for this article, but apparently nothing I said was interesting and most of the focus was on Matt and Sequoia who got a nice video made of them repairing a blade.
The first year (when you are a level I) can be a bit rough. You have to take whatever comes your way to get enough hours for your next level. However, my problem was always too much work and not enough time at home. To get into this industry now with just a level I is hard. Having blade repair training (check out Abaris in Reno) or some other skill is helpful. That means you might have to pay $5k or more just to get the basic skills. Being a pleasant, smart person though is the best skill of all and if you can get in the door that will help you heaps. If you are a good, safe worker the opportunities materialize.
|
|
Blinky
Trad climber
|
|
|
Dec 30, 2009 - 11:19pm PT
|
That's a cool article, I had a look at it last week. This is my favorite subject in terms of making a living.
Roped access can be great or it can be stupidly tedious, choose your job carefully. SPRAT training is pretty expensive and doesn't mean you get a job. Nothing wrong with it but it ain't the whole ball of wax. The windmill thing looks pretty interesting, I've been looking at it for a while now. Seems to require a high degree of craftsmanship and a broad skill set... but I'll wager it gets monotonous sometimes.
I do tower/antenna inspections and maintenance, mostly this time of year because my real job slows down between the end of November and the beginning of March. Mostly I climb, care for and remove trees. It's industrial roped access without the highly structured industrial part. Since the early 90's arborcare has changed dramatically, tree biology/pathology, believe it or not, is in it's toddler phase. Modern tree care requires a broad array of skills and deep knowledge that takes several years to master... that is if anybody EVER masters it. It's not just for alcoholics and psychos anymore. Spike climbing is now relegated to takedowns only, if you're pruning, cabling or inspecting, you climb rope and the tree, no gaffs.
At the most professional level it's roped access at it's finest, MOST of what you do is climbing, maneuvering and rigging... with chainsaws and heavy swinging wood. Staying safe is no simple matter, the climbing and positioning systems are sophisticated, often handmade and tuned by the climber. No two jobs are the same, every tree has different challenges. Dead trees can be seriously risky in terms of objective hazard. It's never boring, often dangerous as hell and takes a cool, intelligent, creative head. The relationship between a climber and the roper on the ground is tight too. Getting big wood safely into tiny landing zones takes teamwork.
You'll still see hacks, amateurs, drunks and wackos working trees but professional tree care is on the rise. The ISA, International Society of Arboriculture, is the primary certifying body for arborists but like all certifications these days, it's as much about funding the organization as promoting professional standards.
The arborist community is tight, there aren't a lot of us and we stay in touch on the net like climbers do here. Climbing competitions are tons of fun, always a party and extremely athletic.
Humans have an arboreal past so tree climbing has a natural feel to it. My only regret is that I didn't start younger, it's the best job I've ever had. If you work for yourself, it doesn't pay so bad either. It's well suited to women since technique is where it's at. If you can climb 5.8 you have what you need to do trees.
For me, towers are cold and sterile. When it's cloudy or windy, the tall ones can get disorienting in a not good way... plus the climbing is just ladders.
If that interests you, check these forums.
Treebuzz - Good starter forum with lots of knowledgeable members willing to help out... suffers from the usual forum bickering though. Heavy on the biological aspects of tree care... which is good.
The Treehouse - start by lurking, a tight knit group of pro arbs and fallers... sort of the Supertopo of tree guys. Less about technical stuff and more about tree guys blowing off steam but if you ask a question, you'll get a chorus of sound answers. It's weakness is the frequent political shootouts. Has a few knuckleheads too but most don't last long. My personal favorite.
Arbtalk - A solid site for UK based arbs... but those brits are quirky!
Forums to avoid:
Arboristsite.com... it's just lame, tons of bickering, very few full time arborists, mostly chainsaw guys... damn good info on modding chainsaws.
Treeworld.com... based in Australia and run by an egomaniac with an agenda. If you aren't a 'yes guy', you get banned. It's the worst of the worst.
Edit:
Finally got my image browser working again...
OSHA and ANSI specify arboricultural safety as well but hardly anyone is 100% compliant... plus, they don't agree.
Most arborists take the standards seriously but nobody is tougher on an unsafe climber than another climber. You don't often see a pro arb without PPE and well maintained rigging. Insurance is pricey and unsafe workers are why.
ANSI is a standard but has no legal authority, it's most useful regarding utility line clearance and safety equipment. OSHA gives little or no attention to tree operations outside FEMA projects and line clearance.
Industrial safety is behavioral. The guys that work safe would be that way with or without rules.
|
|
mister t
climber
nowhere special
|
|
|
Dec 31, 2009 - 09:22am PT
|
Some of you might want to check OSHA standards for rope workers-
very few of these photos show compliance w/ ANSI I-14
employers may drug test- but they don't know OSHA guidelines
|
|
noshoesnoshirt
climber
Arkansas, I suppose
|
|
|
Dec 31, 2009 - 10:17am PT
|
"very few of these photos show compliance w/ ANSI I-14"
examples?
|
|
wildone
climber
GHOST TOWN
|
|
|
Dec 31, 2009 - 12:39pm PT
|
It's my understanding that I-14 deals with roof davits and window-washing crap?
You'll find if you look at IRATA regs, that it's WAY more stringent for work at height than even CAL OSHA, which is more stringent than OSHA or ansi.
This is why we are allowed to do what we do.
If you mean that there has to be a "fall arrest" system incorporated into the system, with energy-absorbing lanyards, that's for window washers standing in a cradle, and they need to be hooked into their cradle by fall arrest in case one of the cables for the cradle breaks. I don't see how this affects rope-access.
|
|
Euroford
Trad climber
chicago
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2010 - 11:53am PT
|
^^^
its a freekin quagmire.
everybody starts every one of these discussions with "its my understanding..."
LOL
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!