Companies have been prosecuted because of photographic evidence like this e.g. https://press.hse.gov.uk/2023/12/20/company-fined-after-worker-spotted-on-pallet-raised-by-forklift-truck/ Fortunately for them, the guys in the photo aren’t exactly readily identifiable!

I was referring to ‘The Work at Height Regulations 2005’ “Employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment for working at height.” I would say...

Looks a lot like Kendal - the work at height regs don’t seem to apply here 😂

I don’t blame you! The Ireby fig.8 on its own remains undone by the way…

Nice one - really enjoyed ready that! If anybody’s reading this and is thinking that this doesn’t sound like enough mud, crawling and ducks then there’s superb additions at either end. The trip to the end of Eastern Front and back at the start, and the Ireby fig. 8 at the end (NE Inlet to True...

This depends on your view of what’s ‘rewarding’ I think. If you actually want to explore significant quantities of new cave passage, then going abroad is considerably more likely to be ‘rewarding’ than staying in the uk! Personally I also really enjoy all of the other aspects of expedition...

Im 99% confident that it’s a Rugose coral. George (former Geology student).

Subcontracting it to somebody expendable presumably 😉

Tirforing out boulders from the safety of the chamber floor was our rough plan. Personally, the disgusting mud in the pig trough was the main disincentive to put it into action! I’m looking forward to seeing how you get on with it...

Well done Space Miners. It’s definitely worth another look up the aven just before the final choke... Think the ropes were left in?

I’d imagine that Alex went prior to us lowering the floor in 2017? As I said in my original post, I’d recommend looking from the Ireby end first - all of the mud traps are easier dug from this (downstream) side. I’m planning on having another go at the dig in Slipstream this spring, so I’ll...

As I remember the bolts in Cripple Creek were Petzl stainless steel ones. I’ve not been through for at least 10 years though so could be remembering wrong! Even if they’re not SS, I wouldn’t be too concerned about them personally. I’d be very surprised if much has changed in the Ireby - Rift...

I’m not a metallurgist, but hot dipped galvanizing is ‘self healing’ so the steel won’t rust even if the coating gets scratched. I was wondering about the possibility of using stainless steel and assembling ‘on site’. The sides of the ladder could be box section, and then use threaded bar for...

Nah, it’s got to be either a Lantra or C&G qualification.

Off topic, but HSE absolutely do say you need specific qualifications for certain tasks at work: using chainsaws being one! https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg317.pdf