The wrongly assembled via ferrata sling. The rope should pass through both of the smaller holes
Owners of a specialist safety sling are being urged to check their equipment to make sure it has been manufactured correctly.
The call came from Mammut and applies to a via ferrata set after one instance of incorrect assembly was found. The company said this is the only example it has discovered but, as a precaution, it is asking all owners to make sure their slings are safe.
A via ferrata on the Hermann von Barth Weg in Austria. Photo: Luidger
There are only two vie ferrate in Britain – one in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, and the other at Honister in the Lake District – but there is an extensive system of the fixed routes, using ladders, stemples and cables in many European countries, enabling non-climbers to tackle routes that would otherwise demand technical rockclimbing ability and roped protection.
The equipment subject to the checks is the Mammut Via Ferrata Y-sling set, number 2130-00080. The manufacturers said: “Mammut Sports Group AG found one which was incorrectly manufactured. The defect is not design-related but is due to human error.
“Since Mammut cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that this was a one-off, it is asking all owners of Mammut Via Ferrata Y-sling sets to check their sets without delay.”
The defective set was found to have its rope incorrectly threaded through the braking section. The fault can lead the braking system to fail in a fall.
The company said any defective sets found will be replaced free of charge. Details are on the Mammut website. Mammut can also be contacted on +41 (0)62 769 81 32.
The call came from Mammut and applies to a via ferrata set after one instance of incorrect assembly was found. The company said this is the only example it has discovered but, as a precaution, it is asking all owners to make sure their slings are safe.
There are only two vie ferrate in Britain – one in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, and the other at Honister in the Lake District – but there is an extensive system of the fixed routes, using ladders, stemples and cables in many European countries, enabling non-climbers to tackle routes that would otherwise demand technical rockclimbing ability and roped protection.
The equipment subject to the checks is the Mammut Via Ferrata Y-sling set, number 2130-00080. The manufacturers said: “Mammut Sports Group AG found one which was incorrectly manufactured. The defect is not design-related but is due to human error.
“Since Mammut cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that this was a one-off, it is asking all owners of Mammut Via Ferrata Y-sling sets to check their sets without delay.”
The defective set was found to have its rope incorrectly threaded through the braking section. The fault can lead the braking system to fail in a fall.
The company said any defective sets found will be replaced free of charge. Details are on the Mammut website. http://www.mammut.ch/viaferratacontrol Mammut can also be contacted on +41 (0)62 769 81 32.
A via ferrata on the Hermann von Barth Weg in Austria. Photo: Luidger
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