Shunt Rescue Guidance

Notice summary: 'TESTS ON BACKUP SYSTEMS UNDER RESCUE LOADS TO REPLICATE RISKS ENCOUNTERED DURING ROUTINE TRAINING'...

...was carried out, during an IRATA Assessors Workshop.

The following advice is given even though the situation described below is highly unlikely to occur

SHUNT GUIDANCE

WARNING: If there were working rope failure during a two-person rescue, a shunt is likely to slip many metres if used in a regular way (ie. slack back-up lanyard/approx fall factor 1)

For users of ALL back-up devises [but particularly shunts] the following advice would be helpful: -

It is good practice at all times to minimise slack in the back-up lanyard, but especially during a two-person rescue. Keep the potential fall distance to an absolute minimum by having minimal slack in the back-up lanyard. [January 2008]