Mountain Rope Work in Banff Sunshine Village, AB
Winter is a perfect time to get out and enjoy the gorgeous Canadian wilderness and all the amazing activities that are available to us. It is, unfortunately, also a time that we depend heavily on equipment to keep us going. In this case it was the gearbox of a chairlift at Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta that failed, stranding at least 100 riders and skiers for over an hour.
Head to Head: Swivel Pulleys by Rock Exotica and CMC
This article features two great pulleys, both with a built-in swivel head. One is by Rock Exotica, the other by CMC. For this blog, we'll be looking at the 2" single pulley and 1.5" double pulley varieties. Let's get to it.
Ask a Pro: What is Suspension Trauma (aka Harness Hang Syndrome)?
So what exactly is Suspension Trauma?
Suspension Trauma (also called Orthostatic Intolerance, or Harness Hang Syndrome) is the loss of consciousness due to a victim being held upright with limited movement for a period of time and can rapidly lead to death if not properly recognized and treated.
Ask a Pro: How long does my rope last? (for British Columbia)
"How long can I keep using this rope? It looks perfectly fine, so I'm good, right?"
The above is a question we get all the time, and I'll do my best to explain the story on rope life.
A disclaimer: this is provided in the context of legislation for British Columbia - so while it won't be directly applicable to other jurisdictions, it will hopefully this will give you a better understanding of where your regulations might come from.
Ask a Pro: Why did NFPA switch from Light Use to Technical Use?
As some of you have probably seen, there were some updates to the 2012 edition of NFPA 1983: Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services. One notable adjustment, and the one I'll be discussing here, was the change in terminology from Light Use (L) to Technical Use (T). The NFPA Technical Committee (these are the guys who call the shots) thought about calling it "Rescue Use" but eventually settled on Technical Use instead.
But why did they bother making the switch at all?
Tragedy hits close to home in Saskatchewan
Burstall, Saskatchewan is mourning the loss of two members of their small community due to a tragic accident which occurred on Monday.
The two were working in a grain harvesting environment when something went horribly wrong, leading to the deaths of a 62-year-old man and his 14-year-old grandson. This is an awful scenario and it is hard to imagine the grief being felt by the families and the tight-knit community.
It is also a grim reminder of just how dangerous the industry can be and what a threat engulfment can pose to workers. There are numerous lessons to be learned here; from that of understanding the hectic rush to harvest to the education and protection of young workers but this post aims simply to educate on the hazard that is engulfment and just how quickly it can strike.
Check this out! - Platinum Rope by Teufelberger Rope Co.
New England Ropes / Teufelberger Rope Co. know a thing or two about making the strings we all go work and play with, but it seems they've hit on something really amazing with this latest upgrade. Ladies and gentlemen of the academy, please meet Platinum Rope.
Confined Spaces Continue To Be Deadly Spaces
Check this out! ClampBot by Conterra
Here's a cool item to hit the market recently - the ClampBot by Conterra. It does sound like it's named after a B-grade sci-fi horror movie, but actually, this little gem works amazingly well!
Head to Head: Petzl Vertex Best vs. PMI Advantage Helmets
VERSUS 
This episode features two great helmet options for rescuers: the Vertex Best by Petzl, and the Advantage helmet by PMI. There's no doubt that both of these helmets are excellent options and are used by a wide variety of rescue teams; from SAR to Fire Departments to Industrial Tower Crane workers, but what sets these helmets apart and, given your line of work, what makes one better than the other for you?