Film: Belaying

Posted by Jon Garside on 10/08/2007
Belaying: watch our film on BMC TV

Belaying is a complex skill, requiring practice and experience to become competent. Inattentive belaying is the cause of many climbing accidents, and mistakes can result in serious injuries for climber, belayer or both.

The BMC produce a range of good practice publications from booklets & posers to DVDs & mousemats. The third in our series of web films builds upon the strength of our Safety Campaign and covers belaying.

Below are three important belaying issues to consider. For more information read our Belaying and Abseiling leaflet which outlines belaying good practice and covers the implications of device design upon device choice.

1. Pay attention!
This sounds obvious, but accidents can occur if the belayer loses concentration. The belayer's responsibility to the climber cannot be over stated.

2. Know how to use your equipment
Always read and understand the manufacturers instructions. Furthermore, different belaying devices have different properties. Some are designed for ropes within a specific diameter range and others for specific styles of climbing.  Ensure you choose an appropriate rope and belay device for the climbing situation.

3. Get in the best position
Anticipate the direction of pull and position yourself appropriately. Standing near the foot of a climb you are less likely to get pulled of balance when holding a fall or lowering a climber. With a lot of rope paid out, the climber could hit the ground should they fall. Standing near the climb results in less rope between belayer and climber.

At a climbing wall there is very little friction in the rope system. If not paying attention or positioned inappropriately, the belayer could be pulled of balance very violently, resulting in them losing control of the belay device.

WATCH BMC TV: Indoor climbing skills: how to belay a lead climber

Watch this and many more skills films on BMC TV.

Download the Belaying and Abseiling leaflet.



« Back

Post a comment Print this article

This article has been read 2573 times

TAGS

Click on the tags to explore more

RELATED ARTICLES

Safety notice issued by Edelrid for Mega Jul belay device
1
Safety notice issued by Edelrid for Mega Jul belay device

Edelrid have asked owners and users of their popular Mega Jul belay device to make a precautionary check for a defective attachment loop, for devices regardless of manufacturing batch. This updates a previous warning which covered a specific batch.
Read more »

Belaying: pay attention!
5
Belaying: pay attention!

Colin Struthers reckons you have a bad attitude.
Read more »

Safety alert for Fixe lower-offs: updated
1
Safety alert for Fixe lower-offs: updated

The DAV (German Alpine Club) have issued a safety alert for lower-off units from manufacturer Fixe, some of which have been reported to fail by cracking of one of the chain links. These units are primarily designed for use at indoor walls, but are also sometimes installed outside with the hangers mounted onto expansion bolts to provide an outdoor lower-off.
Read more »

Post a Comment

Posting as Anonymous Community Standards
3000 characters remaining
Submit
Your comment has been posted below, click here to view it
Comments are currently on | Turn off comments
1
Anonymous User
02/11/2015
In the BMC TV belaying. Does the belayer put their belay device on upside down? Is this now the recommended approach to lower a climber by doing hand over hand on the dead rope?

RELATED ARTICLES

Safety notice issued by Edelrid for Mega Jul belay device
1

Edelrid have asked owners and users of their popular Mega Jul belay device to make a precautionary check for a defective attachment loop, for devices regardless of manufacturing batch. This updates a previous warning which covered a specific batch.
Read more »

Belaying: pay attention!
5

Colin Struthers reckons you have a bad attitude.
Read more »

Safety alert for Fixe lower-offs: updated
1

The DAV (German Alpine Club) have issued a safety alert for lower-off units from manufacturer Fixe, some of which have been reported to fail by cracking of one of the chain links. These units are primarily designed for use at indoor walls, but are also sometimes installed outside with the hangers mounted onto expansion bolts to provide an outdoor lower-off.
Read more »

BMC MEMBERSHIP
Join 82,000 BMC members and support British climbing, walking and mountaineering. Membership only £16.97.
Read more »
BMC SHOP
Great range of guidebooks, DVDs, books, calendars and maps.
All with discounts for members.
Read more »
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Get covered with BMC Insurance. Our five policies take you from the beach to Everest.
Read more »