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Even with all of this though, I fail to see how any contractor could bid for this work as, to my knowledge, it is impossible for any contractor to supply the required “cut proof ropes” – there is no such thing! Richard Delaney” Richard Delaney BE (Hons), MEnvMgt, SPRAT Level 3, Dip Outdoor Recreation.” So what are Parks Victoria expecting these climbing guides to do? This kind of work must be performed by certified Rope Access technicians and be described by approved work method statements. I am rather surprised that Parks Victoria is seeking Climbing Guides to do this as this WORK is clearly covered by Victorian and National Codes of Practice and Legislation dealing with the prevention of falls.

TAIPAN WALL PROFESSIONAL

“While I may not be an active climber these days, professional Rope Access is what I do. Getting them out will be hard enough in that steep terrain, but a layer of government clipboards overseeing it will make it close to unworkable” Anonymous Melbourne based LTO Majority have probably never been on ropes with power tools at all… There are so many extra hoops to jump through for government organisations. “Guides with angle grinders wouldn’t work at all. Those a**holes must love the irony.” Anonymous IRATA qualified climber It is striking how PV plays the “hands are tied” card forced to follow regulations when it comes to kicking out climbers, yet it’s “she’ll be right” when hiring unskilled rock climbers to chop our own bolts. If they try to do it with rock climbers/unqualified people PV should get their asses nailed to the wall…. “…removing the bolts from Millennium would require 3-5 rope access people and an engineer with a rope ticket to do it under worksafe laws. This proposal was emailed to several LTOs this week – triggering many within the industry to contact us with safety and legal concerns. Lets take a look at this proposal in detail… Working with tools such as angle grinders on a rope is not something you want the fresh out of TAFE climbing guide to be doing. A different skill set and a LOT more paperwork is required. Recreational climbing guiding is a totally different activity to the highly regulated construction industry (yes, chopping bolts with an angle grinder whilst hanging 20m off the ground is certainly construction). They are not trade qualified rope access technicians who work on building sites (for example IRATA or SPRAT qualified). Relatively simple ropework involving top-roping, abseiling and possibly a sneaky lead here and there. These “professional rock climbers” who work for these Grampians “licensed tour operators” are generally working day to day on jobs such as running school abseiling sessions at Summer Day Valley. Key excerpt from their proposal below… Sounds totally safe – right? In a feat of utter incompetence, Parks Victoria has decided to hire Licensed Tour Operators (LTOs) from the Grampians region to remove climbing safety bolts from Millennium Caves in the Grampians. PV pitches for cheap workers to do their dirty work This alarming proposal will be reported to WorkSafe Victoria in the next few days.Safer Cliffs Australia formally warned PV against interfering with critical safety bolts a year ago.Controversial author of discredited anti climber academic paper, is behind this proposal.

Membership of climbing organizations may exclude guides from work.PV and all 3 TOs to be in attendance to oversee this work for 2 weeks.Chalk to not be removed, instead will be covered by “pigment”.PV to give angle grinders and drills to unqualified workers and expect them to safely operate in extremely dangerous environment.No construction, trade or industrial rope access qualifications sought by PV.Would likely involve placing at least 50 additional bolts into the cave.Rope access experts alarmed at new proposal as it bypasses safe work practices and likely not covered by industry insurance.

PV contractors have previously attempted to remove bolts, failed and left deathtraps for climbers.

Bolts are located in roof of cave, with high chance of worker hitting the ground if one bolt fails.

This potentially conflicts with strict WorkSafe laws recreational climbing guides) to chop bolts in Grampians’ Millennium Caves.

Parks Victoria seeks to pay Licensed Tour Operators (i.e.

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