Safety Commission to meet in February over via ferrata issue

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The UIAA Safety Commission will meet during ISPO Munich on 6 February 2013 to review and discuss a worldwide warning to users of via ferrata sets that was put out in September.

The warning followed worldwide a fatal accident on 5 August 2012 on a via ferrata in the vicinity of Walchsee in Tirol, Austria where a climber fell several meters and both lanyards on the energy-absorbing devices (EAS), also known as klettersteig sets, broke.

The manufacturer of the set carried out an investigation after the accident. The probe found that that the lanyard’s strength was dramatically affected after intensive use not only because of its specific construction but also due to the material used.

UIAA Safety Commission members met in September before the warning was issued and the 6 February meeting is a follow up.

The draft agenda for the meeting includes discussions:

  • Risks due to Ageing of ‘rope braking system
  • Fatigue or Ageing of static tape used in Via Ferrata Sets
  • specific risks of rental business

Please visit the website of manufacturers for more details and updates.

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