Analysis of equipment and tree climbing techniques in arboriculture

Angažiranje penjača arborista sve je češće pri održavanju, ali i uklanjanju stabala u urbanim sredinama. To je posao koji uz znanja iz arborikulture zahtjeva iznimnu fizičku kondiciju te opsežno poznavanje opreme i tehnika penjanja. Dio osnovnog penjačkog znanja su čvorovi. Čvorove se koristi za privezivanje užeta na radni pojas, izradu prusikovih omči, dodatno osiguranje te se pojedini čvorovi mogu koristiti i za penjanje na stablo. Postoje različite vrste opreme koje se koriste, od koje je dio preuzet iz speleologije te općenito visinskih radova, dok je dio opreme posebno osmišljen upravo za penjanje u arborikulturi. Širok izbor opreme omogućuje brojne kombinacije odnosno načine uspona, rada u krošnji te silaska sa stabla. Tehnike penjanja u osnovi dijelimo na tehnike jednostrukog (SRT) i duplog (DdRT) užeta. Tehnikama jednostrukog užeta nazivamo tehnike u kojima se uspon vrši na jednom kraju užeta, dok se u tehnikama duplog užeta uspon vrši na oba kraja užeta. Kroz anketni upitnik saznali smo kako su penjači u Hrvatskoj pretežito muške osobe, te se uz posao penjača u arborikulturi bave i drugim poslovima često vezanima za rad na visini. Pri penjanju na stablo najviše se koriste razne penjalice (blokeri) i spuštalice (desenderi), a uz njih je veoma zastupljeno korištenje mehaničkog prusika. Gotovo svi ispitanici rad obavljaju uz radnika na tlu (eng. ground worker) koji je kod većine omogućen za spašavanje sa visine.In recent years, tree climbers are often used for tree maintenance and removal. Tree climbers along arboriculture knowledge, need to have good physical condition as well as knowledge about climbing gear and climbing techniques. Knots are part of basic climbing knowledge. Knots can be used to attach rope on a harness, tie a prusik loop and even for climbing. There are many types of gear used for tree climbing. Part of a gear is usually used in speleology and general works at height, other part is specially designed for tree climbing. Wide range of equipment enables many combinations of equipment and techniques used for ascending trees, working in crown and descending. In essence, climbing techniques are divided in single rope techniques (SRT) and doubled rope techniques (DdRT). In single rope techniques one side of a rope is used while in doubled rope techniques both sides of a rope are used. As we found out through survey questionnaire, tree climbers in Croatia are usually men. Along tree climbing, they do other jobs which are often other works at height. For climbing a tree most used kind of a gear are different ascenders and descenders, along them mechanical prusik is second used gear. Almost every one of them has a ground worker while climbing, and usually ground worker is capable of rescuing from height