To Leave or Not Leave…An Access Line!

All of us tree care professionals understand that safety and efficiency go hand in hand. Among the many best practices we develop over time, one particular technique stands out as both a life-saving precaution and a productivity enhancer: leaving an access line in the tree while working aloft. Maintaining an access line is a small investment that offers significant returns in safety, rescue readiness, and overall job efficiency. 

What Is an Access Line?

It’s in the name, an access line is a tree climbing rope that remains installed in the crown of the tree throughout the duration of the climb, ready to be used in either a moving rope system (MRS) or stationary rope system (SRS, formerly SRT). This rope is separate from the primary climbing system being used by the climbing arborist. 

Key Reasons to Leave an Access Line in Place

1. Emergency Rescue Readiness. One of the most critical functions of an access line is its role in emergency preparedness. In the unfortunate event that an arborist becomes incapacitated, whether from a medical emergency, wasp sting, heat exhaustion, or injury, another qualified and trained crew member can use the access line to reach the victim quickly. Without an access line, a rescuer may need to set a line or, in a more realistic approach, gaff up the tree, losing precious time. The pre-installed line removes the need to fight through obstacles and provides the rescuer a direct route to the victim. 

2. Secondary Access for Another Climbing Arborist. Certain jobs call for more than one climber in the tree. If the primary climber needs an assist to divide the workload, increase efficiency, and reduce fatigue, one person would see, the second climber can easily ascend up the access line without disrupting the climber already located in the crown.  
   
   
   

Best Practices for Setting an Access Line

• A little different; set your access line slightly lower than your ideal tie-in point. By doing so, ideally, the access line is set on a larger diameter section that may have the potential to withstand loading the anchor with two people. 

• Use a separate rope from your primary climbing rope, preferably another color or make. This will help reduce confusion or entanglement. 

• Clearly communicate with the ground crew about the purpose of the access line and ensure it is kept clear and untangled. 

• Label or flag the access line when multiple ropes are in use, especially when using similar colored ropes. 

• Consider leaving a throw line set in lieu of an access rope. While not as effective, a pre-set throw line is better than nothing. But do store the throw line in a manner that will prevent it from coming out of the storage cube and away from the drop zone. 
  
  
  

Conclusion

Some may view this practice as unnecessary and deem it to be “a waste of time” because “time is money”. However, to counter that very statement, “in rescue, time is safety, not currency”! I have been guilty of not always installing an access line, and that is something I have forced myself to do, especially during tree pruning operations. Some believe that during tree removal operations, this may not always be applicable because of the intricacies a removal might entail, or uninstalling the access rope at a certain point during the removal. I can see the argument for both sides for removal projects. 

Leaving an access line in the tree while working in the crown of the tree isn’t just an option; it’s a best practice that reflects on the climbing arborist’s commitment to safety, preparedness, and professionalism. On a job where the risk may be slightly higher than what is already present, having that spare rope set can provide a peace of mind and, when needed, a lifeline. Whether you’re an experienced arborist or just starting out, make it a habit: Set the access line. Leave it in place. It might just save a life or boost efficiency.