Online PPE Workshop

Date: 22nd April 2021

Venue: Online – Zoom Webinar

This workshop will be delivered Lyon Equipment’s Mark Croxall and the BMC’s Dan Middleton if you are an AMI or MTA member you will be able to apply for CPD.

Overview of workshop 

Session 1

• Management systems
• Litigation
• Equipment checks

Session 2

• Why the need for the session? First case study – a broken rope
• Break out room discussion – peers share their experiences of when things went wrong with customer kit
• Interventions and the traffic light system -red, amber and green
• 4 main issues to be aware of – old/damaged kit; fake/uncertified kit; misused/poorly fitting kit; non-climbing kit
• 4 equipment items to focus knowledge on – harnesses, belay devices, belay karabiners and ropes

Schedule

• 1000 – 1015 – Introduction
• 1015 – 1030 – Background
• 1030 – 1130 – Session 1 – Lyon Equipment
• 1130 – 1200 – Break
• 1200 – 1300 – Session 2 – Safety management of customers personal equipment
• 1300 – 1400 -Q+A and summary

Kate Phillips 

Finance Director, Lakeland Climbing Centre Ltd

Since 1983 Kate has enjoyed a varied life of climbing from bouldering in the Peak District to Himalayan adventures. Her highlights include the Senate House leap at Cambridge, the first British ascent of Ama Dablam, attempting new routes on 7000m+ peaks, on-sight of 7a sports climbs in Spain, chalk cliff climbing at Dover, ice climbing in Scotland and endless sunny (!) days enjoying fabulous traditional climbing on our stunning inland crags and sea cliffs. Her activity levels are now very much reduced due to solo parenting commitments which together with shoulder surgery and a hip replacement due to worn out joints has required me to learn to pace myself! I am more likely to be found in a lake than on a crag for the past few years where I have attempted to overcome my terror of cold water.

Her work career began as a research scientist, first as an oceanographer and then studying soil chemistry in Venezuela, before moving in a very different direction and incorporating my passion for climbing into my career.  She has been managing the Lakeland Climbing Centre Ltd since setting up Kendal Wall in 1995.  The Company is now one of the larger climbing wall chains in the UK with seven centres in London, Kendal Wall and 2 more centres due to open this year alone. I have project-managed build works, set up climbing wall operating systems, qualified as a mountain instructor to take clients into the fells and now find myself mostly sat at a desk as the finance director.  I am currently retraining as an accountant and hope to swim Ullswater this year.

Dan Middleton – BMC 

Dan Middleton is the Technical Officer for the BMC and also covers climbing walls in his work area. Working with a team of BMC volunteers, he provides equipment advice to participants and partners and helps ensure equipment standards meet the needs of climbers in the UK. In a wide ranging career Dan has both built climbing walls and worked as a floorwalker and instructor. He used to run the testing laboratory at Lyon, where his engineering background proved useful. He is based in Sheffield.

Mark Croxall – Lyon Equipment

A leading distributor of quality climbing, mountaineering, watersports, caving, cycling and general “outdoor” equipment to retailers throughout the UK and Ireland

Specialist suppliers of safety equipment for access and all kinds of work (and rescue) at height

Providers of training and certification for Work at Height

Experts in the manufacture of flexible sided ladders

Manufacturers of lanyards, slings, tackle bags and Lyon Work & Rescue bespoke sewn goods

A provider of warehousing and logistics support to other companies

Mark has worked as a senior instructor in Outdoor Education, a Route Setter and now a Sales Representative for Lyon Equipment. He is a  keen mountain biker and has been climbing for 30 years, competing in the British Bouldering team for around 15 years.