This can go wrong.
The unexpected can effect us all... unexpectedly. Many people say to expect the unexpected. With respect to rope bondage and suspension the number things that could go wrong is large but finite we therefore can be prepared for the majority of likely happenings.
One thing that occurs to me is that there is a difference between knowing what to do about something and coping with something in the heat of the moment. It's something you will only ever find out when it happens.
When it comes to something going unexpectedly wrong, overconfidence and arrogance are the enemies of preparedness, the assumption that something will not go wrong for you. This can lead to ill preparedness and inattention.
Be aware of the risks, consider carefully if you are willing to accept responsibility for something going seriously wrong.
It's my opinion that you should always be aware that..
This can go wrong and have very real and serious consequences.
The dangers of what you are doing should be present in your mind.
Doing suspension bondage always carries risks, people sometimes talk of risk free and having methods that are less risky but there is no such thing as risk free and it's always, regardless of method more risky than not doing it. It is always a risk. It should be a calculated risk that you enter into knowingly and consentingly and with a grasp of the possible consequences and with a preparedness to accept the unhappy consequences of a mistake or failure. This cannot happen if you are not aware of the risks, it cannot be done responsibly without knowledge of how to deal with the possible problems, it cannot be done consentingly without both parties knowing the possible consequences and making an informed decision to enter into the activity.
I have seen people say that suspension is not an advanced skill, that it's easy and can be done safely with minimal knowledge. I cannot help but see these people as fools. You are literally hanging someone's life on your rope and your partner is quite literally trusting you with their life and well-being. This is not something to be casually regarded as a basic skill. You are by engaging in this act accepting responsibility for that persons life, safety and well-being. Be aware of that fact.
There are no getouts and no letoffs. It is absolutely incumbent upon you to know your business and to take that business and your responsibility seriously.
January 28th, 2012 - 00:50
The defining question is can the rigger handle all possible situations they may encounter.
It’s relatively easy to suspend a 45kg girl when you’re a 80kg man.
Change that to 65kg rigger tying a 100+kg bottom.
Now change it from 1 m off the ground to 50m above the ground.
If you can’t do both confidently then you really need more practice before you fly anyone at any height.
January 28th, 2012 - 14:07
True and yet we must consider factors that are not within the control of the rigger, for instance an unexpected material failure. Rare as they are they can happen and by their nature they are unexpected.
There must also therefore be preparedness for outcomes not within the riggers physical control. Because of the unpredictable nature of these failures it’s impossible to say what impact they may have; and this uncertainty is part of the risk that people must accept. However these incidents of for instance a point failing are (compared to the number of suspensions actually done and given a reasonably constructed hard point) incredibly rare.
The rarity of these incidents can be misleading as perhaps some consider them to be so remote as to not be worth considering. They should be considered; just not to the extent of becoming a paranoid overshadowing of all activity.
So not only must the limits of skill be considered but also the ability to deal with the unpredictable to some extent from the slight to the catastrophic. And regardless of introspection. You will never really know how you will deal with them until the unhappy circumstance of having to deal with them in the instant.
January 28th, 2012 - 23:35
How each of us deal with a catastrophic failure that has caused injury is quite different from the skill of a rigger. Should there be an equipment failure, or a medical emergency or even some third party involving you in their accident, how we react has much more to do with our experience in these situations and our own mental strength. I come from a construction rigging background, and this sort of prepairedness is vital in saving lives when a situation occurs. At these times, cool heads, training, and quick thinking are the traits that make the difference. The same applies to a bondage rigging emergency.
January 29th, 2012 - 01:57
Yes my thought exactly.