1. Care and Use of Climbing Equipment and Harnesses

2. Belts Belts can come in 4 D ring or 2 Nylon or leather
Belts are designed for max of 350lbs to include lineworker and tools anything more must be custom made
No unapproved attachments remind all to use a break away handline holder
Talk a little about the impotence of proper fit such as wearing to loose, to high or low

3. Inspection Criteria
Electrical burns, cracks, or deformation of the “D-rings” or buckles.
Loose rivets or broken stitching on the hardware attachment points, and other primary strength members.
Degraded or torn nylon strength members, as well as other physical, chemical, heat or age related damage.
Broken or loose tool loops, snaps or a worn holster attachment point.
Dry rotted leather.
Elongated or extra holes in the tongue
If fail any of these or if drop loaded belt must be replaced
Bashlin recommends the average useful life is 5-8 yrs under normal usage
Buckingham does not give a time recommendation for replacement. They state to replace if fail inspection criteria

4. Cleaning Nylon Clean with mild soap and water Leather
Wash with saddle soap and treat with any high quality waterproofing for leather
Remind all the importance of maintaining their belts
Every 90 days under normal usage

5. Proper Use Which D-Ring Never mismatch D-Rings
Inline Primary in forward Rings recommended
Stacked users choice
Never mismatch D-Rings
All keepers and gates face outward

6. Primary Straps and Secondary
We also want to make sure we use our fall arrest properly and inspect it also
The most common things we see while climbing is improper adjustment ( people cheating the strap)

7. Adjustment Buckingham
Improper Adjustment
Hazardous
Buckingham recommends starting out in the 3 and 9 position
Never allow the locators to fall within the 4 and 8 position
Dangerous

8. Icy or Slippery Wood Pole
Adjustment Cynch-Lok
Normal Conditions
Icy or Slippery Wood Pole
Rear Cleat Contacting
Forward of the Center Line
While climbing
Center Cleat Contacting
When Climbing
Center Line of Pole
Slippery pole includes but is not limited to: grease or oil covered poles, pitch covered poles, moss covered poles and foliage covered poles. Also, the age, moisture content, and condition of a pole can affect its interaction with wood pole fall restriction devices. If the condition of a pole is in question the icy or slippery pole cleat adjustment must be used.
Important Never place your hand inside the carabiner. Holding the carabiner during a fall is extremely dangerous because it prevents the stopping cleats from contacting the pole. Always keep both hands on the exterior Cynch-Lok strap when climbing
Rear Cleat Contacting
for work positioning

9. Adjustment Jelco Patriot 3-9 Position
Metal roller must stay in contact
Greater than 8-4 is danger zone
Handle spikes are at the 8-4 position
Patriot is the only device that allows 8 and 4

10. Primary Straps and Secondary Inspections
Hardware
Stress
Cracks
Indications of electrical contact
Extreme wear
Straps
Wear indicator
Stitching
Cuts or tears
All makes have the same inspection criteria

11. Climbers

13. Rule of thumb for a proper fitted climber is ½” below or 2 fingers the knee joint
• Make sure loop on climber sleeve is secure
• Make sure footstrap ring or loop is secured to climber stirrup
• Inspect climber straps for cuts and excessive wear
• Make sure the pad loops are secure and free of cuts and are
not worn thin
• Inspect climber stirrup to be sure it's not worn too thin

14. Velcro Straps

15. Climbing skills require care and inspection of climbing gear
Length
Thickness Width Contour/shape
The best way to determine that your gaffs are properly shaped is to use a gaff gauge.
Min length of a gaff is 1 ¼ “

16. Gaff Gauges
Klein
Bashlin
Gaff Width
Gaff Thickness
Gaff Profile Slot

17. Buckingham Gaff Gauge Stirrup Width Notch Gaff Thickness Check Windows
Gaff Width
Check Windows
Gaff Cutting
Edge Angle,
“Touch”/”V”
Notch
Stirrup
Thickness Slot
Gaff Profile Slot

18. Common mistakes made when sharpening gaffs
Round of tip
Needle point
Too much of a chisel point
File on edges/ridge
Round of tip
Needle point
Too much of a chisel point
File on edges/ridge
Round of tip

19. File with upwards

20. improper

21. Never file the back side

22. The plane test may be used to determine that the climber gaff is properly sharpened to cut into the pole like a chisel
The plane test may be used to determine that the climber gaff is properly sharpened

23. Harness Round of tip Let’s talk a little about harnesses.
First of all make sure you are wearing it properly wearing it to loose may cause serious injuries

24. Harness Fitting Harness must be sized for the worker
Chest strap tightened at mid chest
“D” ring between shoulder blades
Proper snugness shoulder to hips
Leg straps snug but not binding
Butt strap supports the load
Harness must be sized for the worker

25. Daily Inspections Harness Lanyards Webbing Metal components Stitching
Labels of tip
Snap Hooks
Shock absorbers
Load Indicators
Labels

26. Common Defects ABRADED WEBBING Round of tip CUT IN WEBBING HOLES IN
BURN IN WEBBING
Needle point
Too much of a chisel point
File on edges/ridge
Round of tip

27. Common Defects HOLES IN LOOSE CHEMICAL AGENT WEBBING
LOOSE and BROKEN STITCHING IN WEBBING
Wear Markers

28. Cleaning and Storage
Clean with mild soap and water Store out of sunlight When not in use DO NOT STORE IN BUCKETof tip

29. Safety Manual Review
Fall Protection (pg7) 9.42 Only approved lineman’s belts, gaffs, body belts, harnesses, and fall protection devices shall be used Fall Restriction Devices, climbers, and body belts shall be inspected before each use and shall not be worn if found to be unsafe Approved fall protection shall be used by all personnel while working in an elevated platform.
Read Fall Protection

30. Summary Inspect daily Shock Load replace
All Fall Arrest is Rated for 350 pounds