concerning an identified batch of 7 ropes.

Stop using it and contact BealPMI Customer Service for a free replacement.

The following serial numbers, which can be found on the rope label and on the packaging, are affected by this recall:

004A01235824

005A01235824

006A01235824

007A01235824

009A01235824

012A01235824

014A01235824

What to do if you own one of these 7 ropes?

1. Immediately discontinue all use.

2. Check the serial number on the label: If it matches one of the numbers above, your product is

affected.

3. Contact our Customer Service to arrange a free return and replacement.

Products not affected

All other batches of the Beal Sunrise 9.2MM 50M rope as well as all other models in the SUNRISE range are not affected by this recall and remain fully compliant with the current safety requirements.

BealPMI customer service contact

care@bealpmi.com

  800-282-7673

This notice must be displayed until the end of the recall

Please share this information widely

Loui’s commitment to integrating safety and compliance has paved the way for a safer workplace for technicians working at height and opened new opportunities for women in the industry. With over three decades of experience, she has tirelessly worked both within and outside the tower industry to weave together the crucial elements of safety and rescue.

Her instrumental role in the recent updates to the ANSI A10.48 safety standard, particularly in incorporating vital fall protection and rope access requirements from the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code, is commendable. Loui’s contributions do not stop there; she has also worked to align A10.48 principles with NFPA 2500-1670 and NFPA 1006 standards, benefiting rescue responders significantly.

Loui’s active participation in the OSHA Relations Committee and the NATE-OSHA-FCC Partnership Steering Committee showcases her dedication to fostering collaborative relationships, conducting research, and working towards our shared goal of a safe and healthful work environment.

Join us in congratulating Loui McCurley on this well-deserved recognition and thanking her for her tireless efforts in making the industry a safer place for all.

PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions team helped them by creating a system that stays in place even while the acrobats are working, but that can also raise and lower the elements when needed.

Eight fixed D-ring anchors were placed near the ceiling using rope access methods, with eight ground anchors directly beneath. Top anchors were fitted with PMI Choker Slings, pulleys, swivels and SMC NFPA FP Lite carabiners to allow the system to move freely with the performers. Skylotec Lory descenders were rigged to the floor anchors and PMI Extreme Pro 11mm Unicore ropes were rigged into place – color coded for easy differentiation.

Using this system, Apex staff can raise and lower ropes as needed to easily change out apparatus and adjust to any height. PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions team trained Apex employees in system use and operation. Foundry management has expressed appreciation for the solution provided by the PMI team, knowing that safety and efficiency are significantly improved as a result.

We are happy to help Apex Denver to achieve their goals!

A key requirement in the ANSI Fall Protection Code is that the employer is required to ensure competence of designated persons. This philosophy carries over to the ANSI Z459.1 standard on rope access.

Rope Access is regulated as a part of fall protection under OSHA’s 1910 General Industry rules, specifically in Subpart D and I.  Rope access is standardized as part of the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection code in the document identified as American National Standard Z459.1 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR ROPE ACCESS SYSTEMS.

We are going to be talking in future episodes about some of the specific requirements that apply to rope access in both these groups of documents, but first I’d like to address roles and responsibilities of personnel. In previous posts I have mentioned the responsibilities of Qualified Persons, and I’ve had some questions about whether a Qualified Person and a Competent Person are the same thing, and what that means, so let’s sort that out first.

There are typically four recognized roles in any Fall Protection program. These include:

1. Program Administrator
2. Qualified Person
3. Competent Person
4. Authorized Person

The ANSI Z359.2 standard for employers who are developing a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program does a really good job of diving into these roles and responsibilities in greater detail, but in short we can summarize by saying that

• The authorized person is one who has the employers’ blessing to do work
• The competent person also does work but in addition they are recognized by the employer as having ability to recognize hazards and take corrective action.
• The qualified person is expected to design, specify, or approve systems and equipment, and
• The program administrator is responsible for ensuring that the employer has dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s.

While one individual might actually be assigned multiples of these roles by an employer, the qualified person and program administrator are often not field practitioners.

That’s how it has worked in fall protection for decades.

The ANSI Z459.1 standard on rope access pretty much emulates that pattern, but of course at all levels these individuals are expected to have rope-access specific experience – not just experience in fall protection.

This is particularly important when it comes to the concept of the Qualified Person. This is the individual expected to specify, design, and/or approve systems that workers will be using.  As is the case in all Fall Protection, to be considered a Qualified Person an individual must possess a professional certificate and extensive knowledge, training and experience that is relevant to fall protection and rescue. Taking that a step further, under the ANSI Z459.1 guidance the Qualified Person must also possess a professional certificate specific to rope access, as well as extensive knowledge, training and experience specifically in rope access, fall protection and rescue.

Although qualified persons in other areas of fall protection may not have extensive knowledge of rope access, it is essential that the Rope Access Qualified person have a depth and breadth of knowledge not only of rope access and regulatory requirements, but also of other fall protection methods and regulatory requirements as they pertain to the jurisdiction in which they are working.

The responsibilities of a Rope Access Qualified person include the verification of the appropriateness of the access method to the worksite or location, design/approval of the system to be used, specification of skill level requirements for each employee, specification of appropriate management practices, and approval of the rescue plan. The Rope Access Qualified Person is not necessarily expected to perform as a field technician.

As far as the designation of a COMPETENT ROPE ACCESS TECHNICIAN, this term “competent” is used consistently with other OSHA and ANSI language in that the Competent Technician is one who is capable of recognizing hazards and who has the employers authority to take prompt corrective action. To do this, they must be trained and experienced enough to monitor, evaluate, and address existing and potential fall hazards. On a practical level, typically this means that they are named by the employer in some sort of supervisory capacity.

You may note that in the case of Rope Access we are calling this person a Competent Technician, rather than a Competent Person. That’s because this individual IS expected to be capable of working on rope, in the field, as well as providing immediate supervision, implementation and monitoring of work – and of course they will have the employer’s authority to take prompt corrective action.

Likewise, the term AUTHORIZED Technician is also used in a manner consistent with other ANSI and OSHA standards in that this are defined as one who has been authorized, or given permission, by the employer to perform a given task. The Authorized Technician must be trained sufficiently to operate within the scope of their duties, but generally does not have supervisory authority and is not expected to take corrective action. For example, if they see something questionable in the rigging, their own safety is their first priority; rather than trying to fix the rigging or revise it, they should report the situation to a Competent Technician or Program Administrator.

The responsibilities of the Authorized Technician begin and end with whatever rope access or related tasks they are assigned by the employer to perform. They are responsible only for working within the context of their assigned duties.

Some people have asked whether these roles equate in any way with any existing trade association training schemes or levels of rope access certification. The answer to that question is “not necessarily.” The Authorized-Competent-Qualified concept is something that has been in OSHA and ANSI vernacular for decades, but the levels found in certifications programs appear to have more to do with different types of rope-specific skills than with evaluation of design or supervisory capabilities.

Further to that, it is important to recognize that ONLY THE EMPLOYER can designate whether an employee is Authorized, Competent, or Qualified relative to a given job. This designation is not just about having the appropriate knowledge or training, more importantly it is about what level of responsibility and authority an employer delegates to them within the context of a specific assignment.

Just because a person has received, for example, Competent Technician Training, this does not necessarily MAKE them a Competent Technician; having appropriate knowledge is just a prerequisite. It is only upon being recognized as a Competent Technician and being assigned by the employer to function in the role of a Competent Technician that the designation is relevant.

Likewise, it is up to the employer what knowledge and skills are necessary for each classification in their particular work situation, and this often varies from job to job. This goes beyond just rope skills and includes knowledge relevant to the worksite, the task or trade being performed, the employer’s work practices, and relevant regulatory requirements.

So, this begs the question: Do Authorized, Competent, and/or Qualified persons in rope access need to be certified by a relevant trade organization or certification scheme?

We will delve into that further in a future post – but just to whet your appetite, consider: Certification by a recognized entity is arguably one of the BEST ways to verify what level of rope-specific skills a rope access technician has!

That said, most of the certification schemes are relevant for working all over the world, so when it comes to training and certifications the knowledge that a certified technician has received may or may not be relevant to a given jurisdictional regulation.

In other words, just because someone is certified as a rope access technician by one of these organizations, that does not necessarily mean that they have been trained in accordance with OSHA requirements as they pertain to Rope Access use in the United States. It is up to the employer to ensure that technicians are using appropriate equipment and methods to maintain compliance under the jurisdiction in which they are employed.

Well, that’s a lot to digest, I know. We’ll stop here for now and pick up later with additional questions. If you would like to submit questions please feel free to do so in the COMMENTS box here, and we will do our best to address them.

My name is Loui McCurley, and I appreciate your joining me today. Climb high, and stay safe.

What Gear Is There?

Rescue work needs lots of equipment that is crucially important for a professional. Although one may choose different brands, types of gear, and equipment models, generally speaking there are a few components that are always required. 

Ropes

These are one of the milestones of rope rescue. Nowadays, nylon and polyester ropes are proven to be the most reliable and practical. Different types of ropes have different combinations of core and sheath materials and technologies. Of course, they can be dynamic, low stretch or static; dynamic ropes stretch willingly to absorb the shock from falling, while low stretch and static ropes are more rigid and fit rescue operations well.

Pulleys

These devices serve to produce mechanical advantage and change the direction of the rope’s force. This useful machine works like a lever of different classes, thus giving you a mechanical advantage. If needed, you can build mechanical advantage systems using pulleys, ratchets, anchors, rope, and various connectors.

Harnesses

A harness is a link that connects a person to the safety, retrieval or rescue system. According to the NFPA, there are three categories of harnesses that contain different elements. All of them include, but are not limited to, straps, D-rings, or fastenings around the waist, thighs, and/or shoulders.

Helmets

A helmet is a critical piece of rescue gear. It shouldn’t be bulky or cause discomfort, plus it has to have excellent ventilation and full coverage protection to ensure ultimate safety of a rope rescue technician.

Gloves

Proper rescue gloves provide easy movement and protect fingers and the palm of a rope professional. Leather is by far the most practical and convenient material that is lightweight and easy to remove in need, so the best gloves on the market tend to be from that material.

Ascenders

As the name suggests, we use these devices to ascend a fixed tope. This mechanical tool can also be used as a safety cam in a complex rescue system. 

Connectors

Connectors are vital elements of any rope based system. They are used to connect different components, such as hurnesses or lanyards. Connectors are often used as anchor points and they usually work along the major axis. They can have screw or automatic locks, thus they should be chosen carefully depending on many factors. A Carabiner is a specific type of a connector that is a metal link used to join   gear. Tri-links might be an alternative to carabiners, and are often chosen when there’s a need for three-way loading.

Litter (Rescue Basket)

This is a specific type of rescue stretcher used for carrying an injured person. In most cases, it can accommodate an adult and is used in spaces where there are obstacles to movement. A litter usually has straps that hold the person in the basket, thus making the evacuation process safer.

What Companies Make Rope Rescue Gear?

Rope rescue gear is multifaceted. Each detail of the gear should be immaculate for the safety of the professional. Thus, different companies specialize in various spheres of rope rescue gear, and none of them is like others. While corporations like SMC focus on carabiners and all things metal, Beal and PMI produce various kinds of ropes and soft goods to fit every professional.

SMC (Seattle Manufacturing Corporation)

With the motto “Quality Gear for Life,” SMC is one of the most trusted rescue brands. Their journey started with carabiners and pulleys, and later expanded to include many kinds of hardware such as TerrAdaptor Portable Anchor System, which was a collaboration of SMC, Skedco, and PMI.

BEAL

This company is a family enterprise that specializes in security and climbing ropes. BEAL is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rope, as it utilizes cutting-edge technical solutions. They are known to produce an impressive 16 million feet of rope every year. Still, their production isn’t limited to rope only, as they also make harnesses, helmets, and other gear that all meet the highest standards of quality.

Cascade Rescue

Cascade is a rescue equipment manufacturer whose mission is to protect professionals that save others’ lives. The company started in 1962 with rescue toboggans for ski patrollers, and now Cascade Rescue boasts over 150 kinds of products for the rescue industry. Their primary focus is on rescue litters, stretchers, wheels, toboggans, sled loaders, and more. 

CT (Climbing Technology)

The professional line of CT includes multiple solutions for work at heights, such as lanyards, energy absorbers, pulleys, descenders, connectors, and rescue systems. CT has more than 35 years of experience in its field and is famous internationally. The company constantly applies modern production technology to its products for any kinds of vertical disciplines, including rescue.

Harken Industrial

Harken Industrial is an outgrowth of a sailing brand, and deals with industrial equipment that serves in the harshest conditions. Their gear is low friction, lightweight and durable. Harken Industrial gear provides maximum agility for a team. They are known especiallyfor their PowerSeat Ascenders and LokHead winch kits, power haulers, rigging winches, and foot ascenders.

Skedco 

Skedco rescue gear is highly regarded by professionals, and for good reason. Their rescue stretchers are original and made to withstand any damage or harsh conditions. Apart from making their items, Skedco often collaborates with other agencies and companies. One of the notable results of their work is the TerrAdaptor Portable Anchor System, which they produced together with SMC and PMI.

Rope Rescue Gear Technologies

When it comes to rope rescue gear, innovative technologies play a key role in ensuring the safety of a professional. Today, there exist many cutting-edge technologies that ensure safe work in all kinds of spaces. They let professionals concentrate on the rescue process instead of worrying about the gear. Let’s take a look at some of the breakthrough technologies in the industry today.

Technora fibers

Ropes made from Technora fibers are resistant to chemicals and heat and typically boast  long-term dimensional stability. Technora is a specific brand of Aramid fiber. Aramids are considered to be extremely high-performance fibers because the polymers that they contain have relatively rigid chains of polymers. They are linked by strong hydrogen bonds and thus can transfer mechanical stress exceptionally well with relatively low molecular weight. 

Technora is an aramid fiber that is widely used for braided ropes. It is of  the same family as Vectran, Twaron, and Kevlar. It was developed by Teijin, a Dutch company, and possesses improved fatigue resistance and strength, which is higher than that of Kevlar. Technora has unique properties, for example, its co-polymers are eight times as strong as steel, according to the producers. 

Kernmantle

Kernmantle rope consists of twisted fibers that form the core (kern), which is surrounded by a tightly braided sheath, also called the mantle. Kernmantle rope typically features 40carrier, 48carrier, or 32carrier sheath construction that can protect the core from damage. This construction is widely used for both static and dynamic ropes.

The core of a kernmantle rope is made from bundles of fiber that are twisted to varying degrees, depending on rope type. It is protected by a durable woven exterior sheath. This construction allows optimizing durability, flexibility, and strength of the rope, thus making it one of the best choices for rescue operations. The sheath protects the core from any abrasion, while the core fibers provide the tensile strength of the rope.

Unicore 

Unicore is another famous technology within the rescue rope industry. This is the method of bonding rope sheath and core that doesn’t affect the rope suppleness. The standard rope makes it hard to escape if the sheath has been torn or cut, while in Unicore, the sheath doesn’t slide down the core when the rope is damaged. 

Also, Unicore technology prevents sheath slippage due to its unique bonding. It allows temporary cutting if needed, as its ends won’t melt and the sheath won’t be fraying even if cut with a knife. In water, Unicore rope has reduced shrinkage by more than 50% compared with the rope.

16-carrier sheath

The 16-carrier design provides the ultimate longevity for a rope. It is made of larger bundles, so it wears through very slowly and often features a static rope design. The term “16-carrier”

refers to the number of bundles of yarn that create the sheath. Its main advantage is the supreme durability and toughness of the rope. Such a rope provides a fine balance between tension, number of carriers, yarn denier, and the amount of yarn in the construction.

32-carrier sheath

32-carrier sheath has the perfect balance between smoothness and thickness, and its tension helps the rope to stay round at all times. It isn’t lumpy unlike some other constructions, and it can protect the core from particle absorption and grit. 

32-carrier sheath can also generate friction and grab for lowering or rappelling. It has loosely twisted fibers that make the rope both firm and flexible. Along with 40-carrier and 48-carrier sheath, 32carrier sheath ensures optimal durability, strength, and flexibility of a kernmantle rope.

40-carrier sheath

The 40-carrier sheath construction makes durable, great-handling, high tensile strength ropes.   While a 40-carrier sheath rope has less material in the sheath, this leaves more room for core – usually resulting in relatively high tensile strengths. This rope is genearlly quite flexible while still maintaining good durability. 

Nylon 6.6

Most ropes are made of Type 6 Nylon. Many PMI ropes utilize Type 6.6 Nylon for the better performance it offers. Nylon 6.6 has a broad use in the automotive industry, machine parts, and even weapons. This material is a type of polyamide with excellent abrasion resistance and a higher than average melting point. Nylon 6.6 is also used in PMI life safety rope due to its rigidity, mechanical strength, stability, and chemical resistance. 

Notably, nylon 6.6 is less moisture sensitive and has less shrinkage in steam, as well as a great resistance to photodegradation. Its melting point is 268 degrees Celsius and it’s very stable, waterproof, and less susceptible to fading. As a result, professionals choose it in cases when maximum durability and heat resistance is needed.

• Individual skills proficiency test
• Promote teamwork and camaraderie
• Learn from different scenarios
• Gain confidence
• Sharing of knowledge experience with others
• Documentation of team capabilities

So, check out our list of the most important rescue challenges in the USA:

ROCO RESCUE CHALLENGE

Focus of this competition?

Confined space and technical rescue, 7 scenarios

How many years does this competition exist?

More than twenty

What kind of organizations participate?

Industrial rescue teams, municipal rescuers

How many teams are competing?

Six to eight teams of six persons each

Who can register to compete?

Rescue teams

Scoring/Compliance?

Teams & individuals are evaluated based on OSHA 1910.126 and NFPA 1006

When/where is the next one?

October 23-24, 2019; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Why do we think you should be there and watch?

For more than two decades, Roco has conducted its Annual Rescue Challenge event for rescue teams from across the nation.  At Rescue Challenge, teams are put to the test with ever-changing confined space and elevated rescue scenarios designed to simulate actual emergency incidents. While not a competition, trophies are awarded for the best performances in the infamous “Yellow Brick Road” multi-station, rescue-relay event and for individual skills performance.

Here you can learn earn from realistic confined space scenarios, gain confidence in rescue skills and teamwork abilities, enjoy excellent training while interacting with rescue pros, share ideas, experiences and techniques with other teams and document your team’s rescue capabilities. For compliance purposes, participating teams will meet the annual practice requirements of OSHA 1910.146 by completing scenarios in all six confined space types. Each scenario is debriefed by evaluators and written documentation is provided to each team upon completion of the event.

This year’s event will be held on October 23-24 at the Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Teams are required to have at least six persons, and observer registration is also available. Advanced registration is required. For more information, contact Roco at 800-647-7626. You can LIKE on Facebook or check out photos from previous events at https://www.rocorescue.com/rescue_challenge

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RQC – Technical Rescue Association of Virginia

Focus of this competition?

Technical rescue

How many years does this competition exist?

Since 1995

What kind of organizations participate?

USAR Strike Teams and Task Force members

How many teams are competing?

12 teams of six persons each

Who can register to compete?

Rescue teams

Scoring/Compliance? 

NFPA 1006

When/where is the next one?

May 5-9 2019; Richmond/ Henrico County Area, Virginia

Why do we think you should be there and watch?

This renowned rescue challenge was designed in 1995 to test and hone the ability of USAR teams to solve complex rescue problems in a variety of response categories.  For more than 25 years as many as 200 firefighters from across the gather annually to put their skills to the test based on national standards. Scenarios might include any number of response types including confined space, rope rescue, cave rescue, industrial accidents, water towers, and more. Using the term “challenge” rather than “competition”, this competitive event offers some of the most realistic and challenging training available at a national level.  RQC 2019 will be held May 5-9 in Virginia – this event books up fast! You can LIKE on FB or visit RQC website.

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INTERNATIONAL MINES RESCUE COMPETITION

Focus of this competition?

Mine rescue

How many years does this competition exist?

Since 1998

What kind of organizations participate?

Mine Rescue Teams

How many teams are competing?

As many as 25+ teams from 13 countries

Who can register to compete?

Bona-fide Mine Rescue Teams (must prove legitimacy)

Scoring/Compliance? 

International mine rescue standards

When/where is the next one?

2020

Why do we think you should be there and watch?

This unsurpassed event performs a key role in fostering international cooperation on mine rescue issues and to prevent future tragedy in mine incidents.

The International Mines Rescue Competition (IMRC) is a project of the International Mines Rescue Body. This organization came into being after a tragic incident that occurred in Poland in February 1998. During this incident, the lives of 6 mine rescuers were lost. During the ensuing investigation, the Polish State Mining Authority (WUG) and Central Mines Rescue Station (CSRG) learned that MSHA in the USA had been hosting the competition for approximately 100 years. In a united effort to help refine and sharpen the skills of mine rescuers worldwide, these organizations worked together to host the first international mines rescue competition. Today the semi-annual competition draws more than 25 teams from as many as thirteen countries. The next IMRC Competition will be held in the year 2020. To learn more about the international mines rescue body visit IMBR website; for more information on mine rescue competitions in North America, visit MSHA.

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GRIMP

Focus of this competition?

Technical rescue.

How many years does this competition exist?

New for the United States, coming the first year.

What kind of organizations participate?

Technical Rescue teams.

How many teams are competing?

10 teams of seven persons each.

Who can register to compete?

Rescue teams

Scoring/Compliance? 

N/A

When/where is the next one?

March 2019, Los Angeles, CA

Why do we think you should be there and watch?

To foster learning and collaboration within the global rescue community

The original Grimpday is an international challenge formed in 2006 in Namur, Belgium, by members of Namur’s regional fire department. It was designed to bring together search and rescue teams from around the world (firefighters, civil defense, military, and police).  The European competition has seen as many as 30 teams completing 10 scenarios over two days throughout the city.  This year, a North American rendition of the event, Grimp NA will be held onboard the Battleship USS IOWA in Los Angeles, CA. Ten teams of seven people each are expected to compete in five rescue scenarios over the course of the two-day competition, including high angle rescue, confined space rescue and rope access techniques. You can follow GRIMP Belgium on FB or learn more about the North America competition at https://www.cmcpro.com/grimp-na/

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IRECA

Focus of this competition?

Technical rescue is one category of their competition, they also have BLS, BLS YOUTH, and FIRST RESPONDER competitions

How many years does this competition exist?

Since 1948

What kind of organizations participate?

Technical Rescue teams of all kinds

How many teams are competing?

12 teams of seven persons each

Who can register to compete?

Rescue teams

Scoring/Compliance? 

N/A

When/where is the next one?

June 19-20 / College Station, Texas

Why do we think you should be there and watch?

Excellence in training through dedication, determination, and brotherhood!

Since 1948, the International Rescue and Emergency Care Association (IRECA) has set the standard for World Class Technical Rescue competitions, with Technical Rescue being just one of the four different events that they feature at their annual conference. This year, 12 teams of seven people each will participate in the 2-day Technical Rescue Challenge, which is comprised of 3-5 different rope-based scenarios. The team is evaluated and scored on technical skills as well as patient as they work through industrial, municipal and rural scenarios including elevated pickoffs, confined space, artificial high directionals, and more. To help ensure that all teams rely primarily on team member capabilities rather than expensive specialty gear, only a very basic complement of equipment is permitted. Skills and knowledge are prized above tools and equipment as teams prove their ability to complete a safe and effective rescue.  This is a very thorough event, and includes a separate four-person First Responder competition on June 18 and a BLS competition on the 21st.

You can LIKE them on FB or find more information at IRECA website.

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Technical rope rescuers are united by a unique solidarity that surpasses language barriers, regional differences or other limitations. Wherever rescuers gather, there is generally a passionate dialog over rigging, techniques and philosophies. The more you exercise your knowledge, the more it will develop.
If you are a member of a technical rescue team, there’s nothing like a Rescue Challenge to get your blood pumping and expand your creativity. Whether your specialty is confined space, mine rescue, fireground, or just simply rope rescue, consider attending a Rescue Challenge this year.