It’s also about the first responders who have to go out and clean up their mess. I would imagine when Mr or Mrs Free-Climbing Moron (based on my risk assessment, that’s the proper term) splatters himself all over El Capitan or the like, the bill for the helicopters and response will be many tens of thousands of dollars. Not to mention that the response time to another emergency may be increased during that time. And that’s not to mention those who will have to put themselves at risk in the process for that person’s hubris.

 

In March of 1986 when I was attending Cornell, two morons decided to go hiking along an icy gorge trail at Buttermilk Falls that was clearly marked CLOSED.  One of the first responders and one of these ersatz self-risk managers died. It could have had a higher toll - the weather was difficult and the recovery effort took four days.  It’s not easy to find references that pre-date the web but here you go: https://ithacavoice.com/2016/03/remembering-heroic-ithacans-sacrifice-30-years-later/  So there you go - one moment of self-indulgence =  an innocent person dead, dozens of others at risk, and public resources consumed.

 

Our actions do not take place in a vacuum and carry consequences.

 

Rob Toreki

 

On Aug 8, 2019, at 3:43 PM, James Kaufman <jim**At_Symbol_Here**LABSAFETY.ORG> wrote:

 

Hey Chris ...

 

You wrote ...  it's important to note that the risk assessments that they perform (or don't) impact in many instances solely their own mortality.  

 

Sure if they have no living family!  ... Jim

PS.  "There's more to lab safety than just labs!"

James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.

Founder/President Emeritus
The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Nonprofit Educational Organization for Safety in Science, Industry, and Education

192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900  Fax: 508-647-0062 
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Skype: labsafe; 508-401-7406 

jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org  www.labsafety.org

Teach, Learn, and Practice Science Safely

 

 

On Wed, Aug 7, 2019 at 6:56 PM Chris Jakober <chris.jakober**At_Symbol_Here**arb.ca.gov> wrote:

Hi Jeff et al.,

While I agree that we're likely to see free soloists' unfortunate and (in many respects) preventable obituaries in the future, I think it's important to note that the risk assessments that they perform (or don't) impact in many instances solely their own mortality.  That's a very different environment and circumstance, from my perspective, than a multi-occupant/participant scenario.  And I do not mean to minimize impacts on friends and family, but often the sole outcome from physical injury/mortality perspective is their own rather than others. 

As someone that climbs, occassionally with critical (and valid) concern from immediate family, I applaud the level of preparation Alex completes for his projects.  He does his best to manage the risks that he can attempt to alleviate or minimize.  As noted, there are definitely elements outside of his control (e.g. rockfall, weather).  But I feel he's thorough in his attempts to manage risk to his personal tolerance level.  Is his tolerance in the same realm as my own or others, No.  But its his risk tolerance he needs to manage, not mine/ours.

In honesty, the free soloing game continues to push the risk levels on each climbing season.  Many climbers will tell you its far easier to ascend something than it is to down climb the same terrain.  Which makes the recent accomplishments of Jim Reynolds in Patagonia that much more impressive, and risk laden.  https://rockandice.com/climbing-news/jim-reynolds-fitz-roy-free-solo-putting-it-in-perspective-with-the-pros/  As described in the link, forgetting PPE is of slightly lesser concern for free soloing, "At the base, he realized he had forgotten his harness and rappel device, but reasoned that he wasn’t planning on using them anyway..."

Given the complexities and nuances unique to free soloing versus other risk management environments, I'd personally suggest exercising caution when attempting to draw any parallels to laboratory/chemical safety.  This is my personal perspective as both a climber and a chemist.

My $0.02,
Chris

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