Learning the SPRAT Curriculum: Use of Back-up Devices

On your SPRAT evaluation day, ALL LEVELS must demonstrate competence correctly using and handling their back-up device(s). With the oral part of your examination, each level has different evaluation requirement. Refer to the end of this blog, for some additional resources to review.

On Assessment day, your Evaluator will specifically be watching to ensure that you...

1.  Understand how to select the appropriate lanyard (considering type and length) and then use it correctly, according to the manufacturers specifications
2.  Practice safe handling – avoid touching your back-up device if you don’t need to, with most devices grabbing the body of the device can defeat the cam system and could cause a "panic-grab" fall in the event of a mainline failure. Always keep your arm under the lanyard. Practice appropriate caution whenever you’re moving a device between the rope system and your harness. You don’t want to drop it!
3. During rescue, hauling, and lowering, always move your backup device up to its highest possible position to minimize potential fall distances and the impact loads that would result. An awareness of clearance distance goes a long with this.
4. Avoid creating tangles in the rope system while you’re working.
5. Understand how to pair your back-up device to a compatible rope type and diameter.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of how your back-up device functions. Be able to identify the stoping mechanism, and be able to complete an inspection of all its moving and spring-loaded parts. You should also know how to inspect your device for unsafe wear and tear.
7. Follow the manufacturers specifications to ensure proper use of the device.

The most basic safety point to keep in mind for any rope manoeuvre is that you must always maintain a minimum of two independent safety attachments (that minimum increases to four for rope-to-rope transfers, re-belays, or any maneuver where there’s a risk of an out-of-control swing if equipment failure takes place). The second and fourth points of attachment are your back ups, and in the unlikely event of a fall their successful engagement will protect you.

You’ll be demonstrating the proper use of back-up devices throughout your entire evaluation with every single manoeuvre you complete. Your Evaluator will be watching that you use your back-up devices in accordance with best practices, the training center risk assessment, and the manufacturer’s instructions. This includes making sure that your back-up device is always in the correct position (as high as possible, to minimize your fall factor) and making sure you don't accidentally take off your back up, leaving you with only 1 point of attachment. This goes for when you're hanging vertically or transferring rope to rope. 

Please note that some countries have specific requirements for the selection of back-up devices.

Most Common Discrepancies to Avoid: 

1. Low backup device - minor discrepancy.
2. Ineffectively used backup device (e.g. excessive slack above backup device; upside down backup device) - major discrepancy.

If you accidentally attach your back-up device upside down but then realize your mistake and correct it accordingly before you rely on it, then this is not a discrepancy. It's only a discrepancy if you don't realize your mistake.

We recently published a blog post detailing some of the most common reasons techs fail their L1 evaluation. An additional major discrepancy to watch out for is going down to three points of attachment (taking one of the backups off) during a rope to rope transfer. This leaves you on one point from a given direction of travel. So it seems like you have three points, but we must think about always having two points in every direction when positioned off the vertical hang. This mistake is easily avoided - stay alert!

We’ll go through all of this with you during your training week. We’ll also explain alternative back-up systems and when they may be appropriate. 

Additional resources to check out:

7.5 of the SPRAT Evaluation Guidelines for the source material for this blog.

7.5 of the SPRAT Certification Requirements for a concise evaluation summary. 

This is part of an ongoing series, where we’re breaking down the SPRAT Syllabus and clarifying exactly what will be expected of you on your evaluation day. To continue exploring this series and learn more about SPRAT's Technician Evaluation Form, please click below: