CMC Podcast

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Education
**CMC Podcast**

The CMC Podcast is a platform for well-informed, collaborative and open minded conversations around rope rescue and rope access topics in a roundtable discussion format. Our aim is to inspire further research, testing and feedback around products and techniques through stories and lessons from experts. For more information visit www.CMCPro.com

Latest Episodes:

E5 - Are bowlines Safe Enough for Rope Rescue? Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

Topics:

0:20 Are bowlines safe enough for rope rescue?

4:00 What makes a rescue knot a good knot?

7:30 What testing has been done and how strong are bowlines?

12:35 How do you define a bowline?

14:30 Is there a standard test for knots for cyclic loading?

16:40 Difference between a climbing knot and a rope rescue knot?

17:15 Anecdotal story of a bowline on a coil slipping without a safety knot.

19:17 Safety knots.

24:40 Organizational alignment.

26:50 Standardized and reproducible testing.

34:40 Mis-tied bowlines.

35:40 Why do we call it a bowline on a coil?

Links:

1:11 Kelly Byrne, ITRS 2019, Boutique Bowlines http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Byrne_Boutique-Bowlines.2019.pdf

12:40 Mark Gommers, Analysis of Bowlines can be found at http://www.paci.com.au/knots.php

13:30 International Guild of Knot Tyers IGKThttps://www.igkt.net/

37:15 Ashley's Book of Knots https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Ashley_Book_of_Knots/QaSBVuPK9H0C?hl=en&gbpv=0

Join the Conversation

Please email us with questions or comments about this topic at podcast@cmcpro.com

Important Warning:

Many of the activities discussed in this podcast pose a very substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Products and techniques discussed in this podcast are intended for use by specially trained professionals.
Technical rescue, rappelling, climbing and the training involved are very hazardous activities. Each situation has its own unique conditions and must be evaluated by those present. Effective risk management comes from experience, proper training and good personal judgment.
CMC is not liable for any damages arising from abuse or improper use of the techniques or equipment discussed in this podcast.
Topics discussed are the ideas and opinions of each individual.
Department protocol and regulations should always take precedence.

E4 - Is the Belay Competency Drop Test Still Valid? Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Topics:

What is the Belay Competency Drop Test?
Brief history of past papers and arguments discussing the topic.
How do you have a good test to test something where you have to let go of it to make it work?
Is there a way to account for the human element?
Is there a better test?
If one line fails, is it still controllable?
Where do you want your best guy?
What is the safest belay system?
When was the last time there was a main line failure during a real operation as opposed to training?

Links:

1:05 ASTM F2436 - 14(2019) https://www.astm.org/Standards/F2436.htm
4:05 John Dill, 1991, Are You Really on Belay?, Part 1 (from Response Magazine, Summer 1991) https://caves.org/section/vertical/nhback/NH32.pdf
4:05 John Dill, 1991, Again.....Are you REALLY on Belay, Part 2 (from Response Magazine, Fall 1991) http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/OnBelay.Thorne.20071.pdf
Russel McCullar, An Analysis of the Modern‐Day Belay: Competent Belay or Competent Belayer? http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/McCullar-Belay-ITRS-2017-Revised_12.pdf
13:10 Kelly Byrne blog discussing not letting go: http://rescue2training.com/?p=1355
16:40 Link to future episode 'Belay High, Low or through and AZTEK on AZV'
22:45 Kirk Mauthner, ITRS 2014 Moving Beyond 10:1 SSSF http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/008.Mauthner.2014.pdf
Kirk Mauthner, ITRS 2016 Dual Capability Two Tensioned Rope Systems (DC TTRS) http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Mauthner-Presentation-ITRS-2016-v2.pdf
22:55 Mike Gibbs & Kevin Koprek, ITRS 2019 Two Tension or Not to Tension, http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Two-Tension-or-Not-to-Tension_Koprek_2019.pdf
23:00/23:36 Russ McCullar ITRS 2017 An Analysis of the Modern‐Day Belay: Competent Belay or Competent Belayer? http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/McCullar-Belay-ITRS-2017-Revised_12.pdf
23:00 Russ McCullar ITRS 2015 An Analysis of Traditional Un-tensioned Belays and Two-tensioned Rope Systems in Rope Rescue http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/McCullar_Analysis-of-Traditional-and-Two-tensioned-Rope-Systems.pdf
23:10 Tom Pendley ITRS 2017 Slow Pull Testing of 8 mm Prusik Loops in Basket Hitch and Girth Hitch Configurations http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2017_Analysis-of-8mm-prusik-loops_Pendley.pdf
23:15 Tom Pendley ITRS 2018 Belay performance testing with a Petzl ASAP Lock at the anchor http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Pendley_Petzl-ASAP-Belay-Testing.pdf
23:15 Tom Pendley ITRS 2017 Slow Pull Testing of Track Line Tensioning Systems Used in High Line Systems. http://itrsonline.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017_High-line-force_Pendley.pdf
33:10 Kirk Mauthner, 2016, EMBC Rope Rescue NIF Equipment Testing Summary Report https://members.bcsara.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMBC-Rope-NIF-Basecamp-Testing-Results.pdf

Additional Links:

DRR Rescue 2012 AZ Vortex Drop Testing Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEyUnEEwdLI&feature=youtu.be
SAR3 List of Belay Testing: http://sarrr.weebly.com/belays.html

Join the Conversation

Please email us with questions or comments about this topic at podcast@cmcpro.com

Important Warning:

Many of the activities discussed in this podcast pose a very substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Products and techniques discussed in this podcast are intended for use by specially trained professionals.
Technical rescue, rappelling, climbing and the training involved are very hazardous activities. Each situation has its own unique conditions and must be evaluated by those present. Effective risk management comes from experience, proper training and good personal judgment.
CMC is not liable for any damages arising from abuse or improper use of the techniques or equipment discussed in this podcast.
Topics discussed are the ideas and opinions of each individual.
Department protocol and regulations should always take precedence.

E3 - Should aerial ladders be used as artificial high directionals for rope rescue? Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

Topics

Should aerial ladders be used as artificial high directionals for rope rescue?
Examples of when you might use an aerial ladder as an artificial high directional.
Minimize the load, maximize the degree of aerial elevation, minimize aerial extension, keep the ropes distinct resultant and distinct with crane theory
What other rope rescue scenario is a go, no go by a 300lb margin?
Attendant or no attendant?
Aerial ladder construction
How do we account for the belay impact on the ladder?
Are aerial ladders bombproof?
Block and Tackle theory
Do your research

Join the Conversation

Please email us with questions or comments about this topic at podcast@cmcpro.com

Links

Mike Forbes' website: www.RopeCraft.org

ITRA (International Technical Rescue Association) https://itra.international/

2:50 Pat Rhodes - Aerial Ladders Used as Artificial High Directionals (AHD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOep0xKQY6Q

14:20 Kelly Byrne's 1016 paper at ITRS on 'Fire Department High Directionals' http://itrsonline.org/fire-department-high-directionals-in-urban-environments/

35:10 National Fire Academy paper https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-081.pdf

Additional Resources: Aerial Physics http://www.lacountyfirefighters.org/images/shared/Apparatus_Operator/KME_Aerial_Manual/BSUB3_LACFFASSOC_2010_KME_AerialCat_Manual_Aerial_Physics.pdf

Important Warning:

Many of the activities discussed in this podcast pose a very substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Products and techniques discussed in this podcast are intended for use by specially trained professionals.
Technical rescue, rappelling, climbing and the training involved are very hazardous activities. Each situation has its own unique conditions and must be evaluated by those present. Effective risk management comes from experience, proper training and good personal judgment.
CMC is not liable for any damages arising from abuse or improper use of the techniques or equipment discussed in this podcast.
Topics discussed are the ideas and opinions of each individual.
Department protocol and regulations should always take precedence.

E2 - Does Rope Access Belong in the Fire Service Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Topics Discussed

What is rope access?
Who governs RA? SPRAT https://sprat.org/
Does rope access belong in the fire service?
Competence and particular skill sets vs full SPRAT certification.
RAD ascent vs traditional ascent.
Advantages of understanding what is happening in the world at large.
Is it ok to teach someone to repel without teaching them to ascend?
Do you cover work positioning and fall arrest in your departments?
In what scenarios do rope access skills and techniques prove to be more effective?

Join the Conversation

Please email us with questions or comments about this topic at podcast@cmcpro.com

Important Warning:

Many of the activities discussed in this podcast pose a very substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Products and techniques discussed in this podcast are intended for use by specially trained professionals.
Technical rescue, rappelling, climbing and the training involved are very hazardous activities. Each situation has its own unique conditions and must be evaluated by those present. Effective risk management comes from experience, proper training and good personal judgment.
CMC is not liable for any damages arising from abuse or improper use of the techniques or equipment discussed in this podcast.
Topics discussed are the ideas and opinions of each individual.
Department protocol and regulations should always take precedence.

E1 - Training & Competency Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Topics Discussed:

1) Determining 'defined competencies'

2) Top Down Rescue

Rescue vs team based operations
Fire service vs industrial brigade

3) Maintaining proficiency for rescue vs team based competencies

4) Bottom Up Rescue (Tower type rescues)

Maintaining the concept of fall arrest and work positioning
Training for hazards in your area
Should rope access techniques be incorporated training?
Inside the fence rig for rescue
Ground based vs tower based

5) Rescues that require litter based or other types of patient packaging where you may or may not need an attendant.

Training for the environment that you have.

6) Traditional systems like dedicated main, slack belay vs a TTRS system

Hauling and maintaining rope speed

7) Use of rope winches

8) How do you maintain training on all of these techniques?

Big picture vs small tasks
Devices which can help simplify training

Important Warning:

Many of the activities discussed in this podcast pose a very substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Products and techniques discussed in this podcast are intended for use by specially trained professionals.
Technical rescue, rappelling, climbing and the training involved are very hazardous activities. Each situation has its own unique conditions and must be evaluated by those present. Effective risk management comes from experience, proper training and good personal judgment.
CMC is not liable for any damages arising from abuse or improper use of the techniques or equipment discussed in this podcast.
Topics discussed are the ideas and opinions of each individual.
Department protocol and regulations should always take precedence.

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