valc91•13d ago

Debate: Should we use our own rigging or the site's gear?

Last week out in Denver I showed up on a job and the site foreman told me I had to use their slings and shackles instead of my own. I been running my own setup for 5 years now and I know every ding and wear mark on everything I bring. But he said their insurance requires using their inspected gear. I get the liability angle but man their stuff looked beat up and I had no clue how it was treated before. On the flip side I have a buddy who swears by using site gear because if anything snaps its on them not you. So what's your take crew? Do you trust your own personal rigging more or do you prefer letting the site provide everything and avoid the headache if something goes wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicemurphy13d ago

Honestly I used to be all about my own gear but after seeing how beat up some site rigging can get I'm kind of leaning their way now. If something goes wrong it's on them not my personal kit.

jamief6712d ago

Have you ever had a carabiner just... give out on you mid-descent? I have, and that's what sold me on using their gear. If I'd been using my own $200 harness when that happened, I'd be out the money and the trust in my kit. Now I just show up, clip in, and if something fails I'm not the one eating the replacement cost. Plus you don't have to worry about your own rope getting all frayed from those sketchy anchors people set up...

jakeb8113d ago

@alicemurphy that's a solid point honestly. When you use shop gear and something fails, you can just walk away and let them deal with the owner instead of having to replace your own rope or harness. Plus site rigging gets beat up way faster than anything you'd keep at home so it makes sense to let them eat that cost.