What the work shows

The focus of the video clips is on investigating and practising safety procedures and strategies to minimise risk when top-rope climbing. The clips comprise several different combinations of climbers, belayers, and back-up belayers.

Progress Indicators

Safety and risk management

Investigates and practises safety management strategies to minimise and manage risks

The students consistently practise their safety management systems when participating in a top-rope climbing activity using specialised equipment. This includes the use of climbing calls, such as 'take in', 'ready to be lowered', 'ready to lower', 'safe', and 'off belay'. They manage the risks to ensure the safety of themselves and others, using skills of communication, observation, decision making, planning, self-management, and cooperation.

Student-student conversation Kristen, Murray, and Michael carry out a safety systems check: Kristen: I'm checking that the rope isn't twisted and it comes down, and that the knot is tight and it's connected to the carabiner, which won't open, and it's orientated correctly, and that it's attached to the harness, which is fitted on Murray correctly, and that it's doubled back, and it says 'C' for closed. Murray: I'm going to check Kristen, and I'm checking that the rope goes up through the thing [stitch plate or figure of eight] and that it's not twisted. And it comes down and goes through the belay device, which is connected to the carabiner, which is orientated so that it can't be opened and is tight, and that it's connected to the harness correctly and the harness fits correctly, and that the buckles say 'C' for closed, not 'O' for open. Michael: I have overseen this safety check, and we're ready to climb. Following this conversation, the teacher clarified what Murray meant by 'the thing'.	Clip 1
Student-student conversation Kristen and Murray provide safety systems for Nicola, who is out of shot, about to climb the wall: Kristen: On belay. Murray: Belay on. Nicola: Ready to climb. Murray: Climb away, Nicola. Kristen: We've completed our climbing calls, and the climber has started to climb. The pull phase of the belaying sequence shortens the rope as the climber climbs. I lock the rope off by holding it behind my hip. I then hold the rope in a locked position with my left hand so that I can reposition my right hand to continue belaying. Now we're ready to lower the climber.	Clip 2
Student-student conversation Laughton rests safely on the wall: Laughton: Watch me! Take in – I need to rest! [The belayer takes in the slack rope to reduce fatigue for both the climber and the rope.] Kristen: The belayer will keep the rope locked off and keep a stable, balanced position so the climber doesn't get lowered down the wall. The backup belayer can help by holding the back of the belayer's harness like an anchor.	Clip 3
Student-student conversation Kristen positions herself safely to be lowered: Kristen: Ready to be lowered. Michael: Ready to lower. [The belayer pays out the rope.] Kristen: I hold on to the knot in front of me, sit in my harness, and put my feet flat against the wall. I'm still sitting in my harness, and I walk down the wall.	Clip 4
Student-student conversation The group provides a safety system to lower Kristen: Michael: The climber has reached the top, and now I am preparing to lower her. Kristen: Ready to be lowered. Ashley: Ready to lower. Michael: I keep both hands on the tail end of the rope, feeding the rope through my left hand with my right. Ashley is my back-up. Ashley: I hold on to the back of Michael's harness and act like an anchor. I also hold the rope in a lazy loop to back up the belayer. Kristen: Safe. Michael: Off belay. [The belayer discontinues the belay.]	Clip 5

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