Tree climbing

TREE CLIMBING
Tree climbing operations require specific techniques designed to minimize the high risks that are present during controlled tree felling and pruning operations. The choice of products and techniques must combine the specific working needs of tree climbing, cutting and rigging with the safety conditions required for safely working at heights.

Fig.14 - INSTALLING THE ROPE ON THE TREE
The first operation to be carried out is to launch, in the direction of the chosen anchor point, a small weight to which a cord is attached. The weight with the cord attached can be thrown by hand or launched using a special sling shot. The access rope is then connected to the cord with a special knot and pulled through to the anchor point and installed.

Fig.15 - TECHNIQUES FOR ACCESSING AND MOVING IN THE TREE

First, an access rope is installed from the ground to be used for climbing up into the tree. In some countries the use of a second backup rope is required. Then, for the movement in the tree, a second rope is installed, anchored as high as possible for maximum safety. The use of a cambium saver creates a dedicated anchor point and reduces friction, thus preventing the rope and the tree from damaging each other. The two most popular techniques for access and movement in the tree are:

• Doubled rope technique DdRT / Mobile Rope System MRS (fig.15a)
  A climbing technique using a doubled rope that moves constantly between the anchor and the operator: the end of the rope and the adjustment device are connected directly to the worker.
• Single Rope Technique SRT / SRS Stationary Rope System (fig.15b)
  A climbing technique which involves the use of a rope anchored to a fixed point in the tree, or at the base of the tree. The rope is fixed, and the operator moves along the rope.

Fig.16 - PRUNING AND CONTROLLED FELLING
During cutting operations, the operator must use two independent safety systems. When using a chainsaw, it is recommended to use a steel cable positioning system that offers increased resistance to cutting (fig.16a). Controlled felling is a technique used to remove sections of a tree that cannot be felled in the traditional way by dropping the tree to the ground due to the presence of structures, power lines, or other sensitive elements in the drop zone or working area (fig.16b).

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