Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

Download

2 0 0 9

V.axess, The Petzl Institute

The Petzl Institute was created to be a place ordiscussion and experimentation. Its goal is to uniteexperiences and knowledge under one roo in orderto invent and develop the techniques o tomorrow.To reach these objectives, it is necessary to increaseour understanding o the dierent components overticality. This modeling phase is essential. It mustintegrate human dimensions, both physiologicaland psychological, as well as technical dimensions,which may involve equipment or progression.Taking orm in a new 500 m

multi-use building,V.axess owns sophisticated modular units which canbe used to simulate most situations encountered inthe vertical world: a 20 m tower, inclined outdoorclimbing walls designed to reproduce uniqueclimbing conditions, like seeping water or ice, or100 km/h + winds (created by 50 kW ans)...This new tool is totaly adaptable to our needs andallows us to - in complete saety - analyze andbetter understand dierent phenomena observedin the ield. This new inormation will allow us toinvent and experiment with techniques or the 21stcentury.

Solutions for progression in dark or verticalenvironments

Petzl's proessional range revolves around two product groups:

• products for "verticality", designed for work at height or rescue

• headlamps for working hands-free in the dark

Our commitment remains the same: to contribute to the evolution otechniques through continuous research regarding saety, comort andsimplicity.In order to succeed, Petzl has invested in innovative projects, notably innew Personal Protective Equipment...- Ater being approached by New York City's ire department, Petzlinvented the EXO emergency evacuation device. To remain true to oursearch or simplicity and comort, we had to carry out many tests in theield and ollow a speciic process o development.- The new I’D sel-braking descenders are now easier to manipulate,thanks to the button on the new handle which acilitates moving on anincline- All our rope clamps with cams have evolved technically to increase theeiciency o rope ascents- And inally, the 2009 line dedicated to proessionals expands withthe addition o the new SEQUOIA and FALCON harnesses or tree careand rescue, the ASCENTREE double-handled rope clamp, as well asthe many semi-static ropes now available in dierent lengths, with orwithout sewn terminationsIn Petzl's 2009 proessional catalogue, you will ind:- a irst part presenting multi-product solutions adapted or dierentapplications and work scenarios- a second part presenting the complete selection o Petzl products or

"verticality" and hands-free lighting

The Petzl team

Vertical work pages 02 to 107Hands-ree lighting pages 108 to 133

K ä r c h e r © D . F r a n c k

Mastering the techniques

To optimize saety and eiciency in work at height, great precisionand excellent technique are required. These skills should be acquiredthrough speciic training and regular practice appropriate or each stageo the operation.Petzl recommends using a specialized training organization or alltraining activities.The examples on the ollowing pages illustrate some o the practicesused in the vertical world.

Means of protection

In most cases, collective protection should be the irst choice. The useo Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is authorized or certain speciiccases:

• when external access is not possible (platforms, cherry pickers, etc.)

• when installing collective protection systems is technically impossible

• when using PPE can reduce risks

• the job operations are infrequent and short-term

Providing safety during operations

Using PPE or work at height and rescue systems must always ollowcertain basic rules:

• careful selection and safe placement of anchor points: the quality of

the anchors is crucial or saety. Distributing loads and installing devicesis essential. Double or triple redundant anchors or each system providean optimal level o saety, particularly or rescue operations and Tyroleantraverses

• appropriate work post organization: installations built for working at

height or or rescue must be simple and well organized. Simple andorganized systems will make the inspection process quicker and moreeicient

• a back-up belay system: whenever possible, rescue systems must

have an independent back-up system that simultaneously ensures thesaety o the victims and rescuers (except in the case o sel-rescue)

• an evacuation plan: at a worksite, there must be an evacuation plan

that allows the teams to get themselves out or be rescued, in the case oan accident. PPE was originally designed to only be used by one personat a time. When this equipment is used to evacuate two people at thesame time, it is only authorized or a ew speciic scenarios, such asaccompanied descent, lowering or raising a litter, etc. In these cases:- their usage is neither certiied nor covered by the Directive on personalall arrest protection- the equipment is being used at the upper limits o itscapacity: careully read the instructions or use

Techniques

Work techniques

General principles o working at height page 4Difcult access 6Tree care 12Energy and networks 16Framing and roofng 20

Rescue techniques

Sel-rescue page 24On-site rescue 26Technical rescue 30Ski lit evacuation 34

Products

Traceability page 39Harnesses 40Helmets 56Lanyards and energy absorbers 60Mobile all arrest device or rope 66Connectors 68Descenders 74Rope clamps 80Pulleys 86Anchors 92Ropes 98Packs 104Accessories 106Standards 107Index 134

VERTICAL WORK