Here at Roco, we have recently discovered a minor issue when the SKED stretcher is updated with Cobra buckles. The Cobra buckle replacement system is attached by girth-hitching the components into the grommets. The girth hitch takes up more room in the grommets than the sewn loop that was previously used. This makes it more...
Petzl has published a statement addressing special use of the Petzl Shunt as a back-up device for industrial rope access. For any users of the Petzl Shunt as a self-belay device such as tower rescuers, the same information applies. For Roco Tower Work and Rescue students who were taught the use of the Shunt as...
This is how Petzl began, in my father’s 75 square meter workshop. My family – my father, mother, brother, wife, and I – designed the first tools for verticality and the first underground lamps, which lead, in 1972, to the Petzl headlamp.
We’re often asked about using training rope for rescue purposes, so here’s what we discovered… The short answer is yes. However, NFPA 1500 provides some additional guidelines. NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program (2007 Edition) 7.16.3* Life safety rope used for rescue at fires or other emergency incidents or for training shall...
The newly revised Roco Pocket Guide features fifty-eight pages of color illustrations of the actual techniques and systems taught in our classes. Made from a synthetic paper impervious to moisture, this pocket-sized field guide will hold up in the most unfavorable environments.The newly revised Roco Pocket Guide features fifty-eight pages of color illustrations of the...
In this article, we want to provide some background on our experiences with users of rescue equipment, and why we feel proper training is so important. In the past 30 years, we’ve had the honor of having thousands of students attend our rescue training classes. Attitudes toward the statement “Do not use this equipment without...
We have learned that Petzl America is recalling about 375,000 shock-absorbing lanyards that were sold worldwide beginning in 2002, according to an announcement on July 12 from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Consumers are advised to stop using the devices immediately, and contact Petzl for more information.
For our readers who may use Petzl GriGri 2’s, we wanted to make you aware of this recall. Please check the serial number of your device to see if it’s in this range. You will also need to contact Petzl as indicated below. As noted, this does not apply to the previous generation GriGri. NOTICE...
ASTM F1740 provides very comprehensive guidelines for users of rescue rope. The title “Standard Guide for Inspection of Nylon, Polyester, or Nylon/Polyester Blend, or Both Kernmantle Rope” indicates it is specifically intended to guide the user in the inspection of these rescue ropes, and is not intended to be a guide in the selection and...
One of the most reliable ways to ensure that your rescue team is able to identify, and if needed, prove ownership of its equipment is by marking the gear with some type of visible identification. There are many ways to accomplish this ranging from color-coded paint or vinyl tape to affixing tags. Each has its...
