If the operator experiences issues with controlling the speed of the lower, the tailor serves as risk mitigator in the operation. Tail can be redirected to a center location. In this case, a single rescuer can manage both tails from each Clutch device and serve as backup to the Clutch handle operator. In scenario two, if additional rescuers are available, the team can reduce the risk profile by adding an additional tailor to the lowering system. Regardless of proximity of the two individual lines, both operators may find it challenging to balance the load equally depending on training and experience. The challenge in this scenario comes from coordinating the lower between the two operators. Any catastrophic event to one of the lines will shift it slow to the alternate tension line, thereby reducing the shock and extension on the line compared to an unintentioned belay system. As soon as the litter is over the edge, the operators move from one slack and one tension line to a shared tension system where the load is evenly divided between the two devices.

As the load which includes a rescuer and the occupied litter approached the edge, the load that the Clutch seized is relatively light through the absence of gravity at this stage of the lower i.e. In this first rigging scenario, we have the Clutch rigged to two individual anchors with two operators, each operating the Clutch handle and rope tail. This video will review a progression of four TTRS scenarios and the risk or challenges associated with each.

Rigging TTRS can vary based on location, equipment and human resources available for the operation. A twin tension rope system is the current best practice for rigging, raising and lowering operations in rescue scenarios. Refer to your department policy and anchoring guidelines for your preferred anchor rigging. We will not focus on the technicalities anchoring these systems. For this video we’ll focus on the Clutch being used in a twin tension rope system or TTRS. Welcome to the Clutch application video series. Thanks CMC for making this demonstration of CMC-Harken Clutch very straightforward. The CMC Clutch by Harken Industrial is a “dream come true”. So often the “clarifying message” of “the how” can get completely lost if the angles are not right. This video from CMC is clearly technical, but I really appreciate the angles of perspective.

Video (to me) is either aesthetic or technical and trying to bridge both is tough.

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