If you work within a job or industry that requires to work at height, you are of course exposed to the risk of falling. Falls from a height, whether they are from great distances or small, can cause serious injuries and sometimes even death – the severity usually determined by a number of factors including age, weight, the way in which you land and the surface landed on. Despite these things having an influence on the outcome of a fall, the risk of falling can be reduced massively when the correct equipment is used.

Here at Life-Gear.com, we supply a comprehensive range of Height Safety Equipment that ensures optimum levels of safety when working at height. Look below to see a selection of our products and some of their features.

Height Safety Products

Tool Safe Bungee Swivel Type Lanyard

This Tool Safe Lanyard is an essential piece of equipment for all workers who use tools when working at height, as it prevents tools from falling while you’re at work. Simply attach the lanyard to both yourself and your desired tool.

Product Specifications:

• 1x Twist lock karabiner
• 1x Swivel twist lock karabiner
• Maximum load: 15kg
• Bungee rope length: 52cm
• Max length: 104cm

G-Force Equipment Storage Bag

Similar to the above Tool Lanyard, this Storage Bag provides the ability to carry all of your essential tool in one safe and secure place while climbing to your desired workspace. Carry a range of equipment such as ropes, harnesses and tools.

Product Specifications:

• Strong PVC
• x2 adjustable straps
• Dimensions: 350 x 400mm
• Max load: 30KG

These are just a select few items of our Working at Height product range. To view our entire collection, simply hit the button below where you can find additional products such as Pulleys, Fliplines and Rope Grabs, all of which increase the level of safety when working at height. If you have any questions regarding a product mentioned above or about our Height Safety range, please do not hesitate to call us on 0117 9381 600 or email us sales@life-gear.com.

Our Working at Height Range >

Using a chainsaw can be very dangerous. That’s why it’s important that people using, and in the presence of someone using a chainsaw are supplied with appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly. In this blog, we talk about the significance of each piece of PPE and showcase some of our favourite products from our chainsaw protective gear range.

When using a chainsaw there are a few key areas of the body that you should be aiming to protect including your; head, eyes, ears, hands, legs and feet.

Protecting your head, eyes and ears:

The most frequent chainsaw related injuries are not lacerations or cuts, but an injury caused by flying debris, therefore protecting the head and face is absolutely essential. The helmet you see in the photo above is part of our Forestry Helmet Set, which comes complete with noise cancelling ear cups. We also stock Edelrid Ultra-Lite II Arborist Climbing Helmets which are robust and come in a range of colours.

Shop Chainsaw Helmets here >

For extra eye protection, you could also consider wearing protective glasses or goggles – take a look at our Eye Protection range here:

Shop Eye Protection >

Protective clothing for hands, legs and feet:

Wearing protective clothing on your hands, legs and feet will dramatically reduce the risk of an accidental laceration or cut occurring. Here at Life-Gear.com, we can supply all the necessary PPE to keep you protected!

Hands:

The gloves you see above are our SIP 2XD3 Chainsaw Gloves in Red/Black. This particular pair will provide protection for both your hands and they are reinforced with waterproof rubber meaning they’re incredibly durable and will allow you to safely grip the chainsaw regardless of the weather conditions.

Legs:

Choosing a pair of trousers that will protect your legs in the event that the chainsaw came into contact with them is a necessity.

The pair you see here are the Innovation II Type C Chainsaw Trousers in Red/Black. They’re incredibly comfortable thanks to their lightweight material and ventilation. The reason they are suitable for chainsaw users is because they are composed of Pezatec (Condura®) and Pezaflex (Condura®) fabrics with a Teflon™ finish and Dyneema® yarns. These trousers will provide optimum comfort and protection!

Browse our entire Chainsaw Trousers Range Here >

Feet:

Protecting your feet is just as important as protecting the other parts of your body, and the best way to do so is by wearing boots that have been designed specifically for chainsaw users. These ones are the Haix Protector Ultra Signal Chainsaw Boots in Red – they are lined with GORE-TEX®, and have an anatomically designed protective toe cap.

View all our Chainsaw Boots here >

Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about our chainsaw PPE – We’re more than happy to help.

When climbing a tree, there are certain pieces of equipment that are absolutely essential. Whether you're a professional tree surgeon or you climb trees for some other reason, safety should always come first and having the right gear will dramatically reduce the risk of injury.

Safety Harnesses

You have a reasonable amount of choice when it comes to selecting a suitable safety harness. The harness you choose should fit snugly but still be comfortable to wear.

The tree climbing work positioning harness pictured above is a great option because it is affordable, comfortable, and has multiple attachment points. Make sure you know your waist size before ordering as this will ensure that the harness fits correctly.

Alternatively, you could opt for a full body harness. These harnesses are probably a more comfortable choice for tree surgeons because you can easily sit down into the harness and still feel secure while working at height for extended periods. One of our favourites is the PETZL AVAO rope access safety harness, which wraps over the body in an 'X' shape to reduce the pressure on your body during longer suspensions.

View all harnesses >

Lanyards

A lanyard (or flipline) is a length of cord that can temporarily hold a tree climber in place. Having a lanyard attached to your safety harness allows you to maintain a point of contact with the tree at all times.

There are many options available when it comes to picking a lanyard: the length, mechanism and material can vary from one product to the next, so be sure to do some research before making a purchase.

View all lanyards and fliplines >

Helmets

If you're working up a tree, it's important to buy a protective helmet that was actually designed for arborists and tree surgeons. A standard hardhat is not acceptable - hardhats are designed to protect the head from falling objects, and while this is still a potential hazard when climbing a tree, there's also a risk that you will be hit from the side or fall from a great height. Your helmet needs to be capable of protecting you in all of these circumstances.

The helmet shown above is a favourite amongst arborists: the PETZL Vertex Best Climbing Helmet. It features:

• A CentreFit adjustment system
• A strong chinstrap
• Attachment points for a visor / ear defenders

View all safety helmets >

At Life-Gear.com we stock a variety of arborist bags that are designed to serve different purposes; some arborist bags are ideal for storing all your equipment as you move from site to site and others are more compact and secure for use while you’re working in the trees.

Arborist bags need to be:

• Durable
• Easy to access
• Watertight
• Big enough to store your equipment
• Compact enough not to get in the way

We have selected a few of our arborist bags to give you an overview of their different qualities and uses. Our arborist bags will get you on site, up the tree and able to work with as little hassle as possible.

Getting on site:

As an arborist you will have a lot of equipment you need to take on site with you, this may include your:

• Harness
• Helmet
• Ropes
• Hardware

Whatever you need with you will be kept together, dry and secure in this Large Edelrid Arborist Equipment Storage Bag. This bag has a capacity of 45 litres, D-rings so that you can secure your equipment into it using a padlock, and it’s floatable and watertight meaning none of your equipment will get damaged even in the harshest conditions.

For use in the trees:

Once you have ascended into the treetops, you need an arborist bag that’s easy to access and close to your body. This Edelrid Mini Equipment/ Tool Bag for Harness Belt is the ideal bag for the job! It can be attached to any harness or belt using a standard hook, or pair it with one of our tool lanyards.

For smaller items:

If you need to carry small pieces of equipment like pruning tools etc. into the trees, this Lyon Arborist Equipment Bag is perfect. It can carry up to 3litres of equipment, has a drawstring closing mechanism and will fit easily to any harness.

Not sure if any of these arborist bags are right for you? Not to worry, we have lots more for you to choose from on our site!

View our arborist bags here >

If you have any questions about any of the products featured in this blog, or if we can help with anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help with whatever query you may have.

Whether you need to transport equipment, furniture or machinery, it is imperative that you secure heavy objects in place to avoid potentially harmful accidents from occurring. In this blog, we talk about some of the equipment and accessories available from Life-Gear.com that can be used to safely secure heavy objects. 

Before selecting the right equipment to secure your load you need to establish the following:

• How much does your load weigh? This is important because you need to choose an appropriate tie-down method that can withstand the pressure of the object you wish to transport.

• How will the weight be distributed? Will the object be stood up or laid down? This can help you to determine how many tie downs you need to keep the item secure.

• Is there suitable friction between the object and the vehicle? If the object is likely to move around a lot because a) it’s on wheels, or b) because the base of the object and the vehicle surface are both slippery, then you need to ensure appropriate friction devices are used.

• Choose the right tie downs. Having established the weight of your load and how many tie downs you’ll need, you can purchase the right number and style of tie downs. Take a look at some of the options available on Life-Gear.com below:

Ratchet Lashings

Ratchet lashings, like this Premium 5 Tonne Ratchet Lashing Strap (with claw hook) are excellent for securing down a variety of objects and they’re incredibly easy to use. You can buy them individually, or in packs of 10, 30 or 50!

Individual Ratchet Lashing >     10 Ratchet Lashings >     30 Ratchet Lashings >     50 Ratchet Lashings >

Take a look at our instructional Ratchet Lashings video here, using these lashings couldn’t be easier:

Ratchet load binders

If ratchet lashings aren’t suitable to secure your load, then perhaps you should consider a ratchet load binding kit like the one you see here. These kits are often used for transporting heavy-duty equipment such as diggers and they’re just as easy to use as ratchet lashings.

The load is secured using the chains, and the user can adjust the tension in the chain using the ratchet mechanism to ensure that the that the object being transported doesn’t move.

At Life-Gear.com we offer a range of ratchet load binding kits and accessories including:

• 12600kg M.B.S Ratchet Loadbinder Kit with Latch Hooks >
• G80 Lifting Chain >
• Ratchet Load binder for 13-16mm diameter chain >

But you can view the full range of Ratchet Load Binders here:

Load Binder Kits/Load Binders >

Polypropylene Rope

Polypropylene rope isn’t great for tying down overly large or heavy loads, but it is ideal for tying down smaller, lighter objects. This rope is economical, reliable and weather resistant, making it perfect for a number of tying down jobs.

We supply polypropylene rope in a variety of lengths and diameters, you can view all the polypropylene rope we offer here:

Polypropylene Rope Range >

Hopefully, this can help you move your loads from A to B without any accidents, however, if you have any questions you can contact us, our customer service team are happy to assist you in any way they can.

The Bear Valley EXO Ranger breathable mesh vented shirt is designed to keep workers cooler in the sun  💪  

Designed for arborists, site workers, and anyone working outdoors the extra strong stitching helps withstand more abuse from physical work.

The ranger boasts ergonomic comfort and performance whilst at work.  

Breathable Vents ☑️ 

Snug Fit ☑️  

Long Torso ☑️

Longer torso length to allow for the user to stretch without the shirt becoming untucked 

Breathable mesh vents along the whole side of the user 

Extra strong stitching to withstand more abuse from physical work 

3 Material blend for maximum comfort, stretch and moisture control 

Tight to the body, neck and arms to help reduce the ingress of foliage/tree waste and reduce snagging. 

Visit our Bristol depot to try it for yourself or BUY ONLINE today ! 

Any order at Life-Gear.com gets you 1x Free T-Shirt, at the checkout be sure to submit the relevant discount code for yours today!

For the SAWS T-Shirt enter: 

• SAWS-S
• SAWS-M
• SAWS-L
• SAWS-XL

For the Green Union Jack T-Shirt enter:

• TF-S
• TF-M
• TF-L
• TF-XL

Securing the ASCENTREE with the ZIGZAG - Technique for access and work on a single rope 

There are many access techniques suitable for different work objectives in the tree. The access technique includes a choice of rope installation, and the ascent technique itself. Two precautions are recommended during access. When ascending using a frame-loaded rope clamp, the user must not fall if one or both of the cams on the rope clamp should open. The cams should be backed up, for example, by friction hitches. The user must be able to descend in an emergency, without significant change to the equipment setup. 

Arriving at the top, the ZIGZAG is on the splice side, ready to be set up for the normal work configuration. 

                                                  Access                                     Work

• Uses little equipment. 
• The work rope is not carried by the arborist while climbing. 
• The rope length, required for the work phase and the descent, is verified during access setup. 
• The rope joining knots, placed at the top, ensure no knot passing in case of emergency descent, or rescue. 
• The choice of EXPRESS sling allows the ergonomics to be adjusted for the ascent. 
• Work is not possible during the access phase. 
• Without an access rope left in place during the work phase, the possibilities of aid or rescue by the ground person are reduced 

Precautions 

The ZIGZAG must be installed on the blocked rope strand. 
 
The quick link on the ASCENTREE must be tightened with a wrench. 
 
The knots must be moved up as close as possible to the branch for the strand to be correctly blocked. 

Remarks on the ZIGZAG backup 

- If the cam on the blocked strand opens, the ZIGZAG works normally in double mode 
 
- If the cam on the other strand opens, the climber is held by the cam on the blocked strand (the rope must be tightened around the branch) 
 
- Warning: if both cams open simultaneously, the arborist will be hanging from the ZIGZAG in single mode. This situation is acceptable in this special case, on the condition that the arborist dœs not move. It is recommended to quickly make a backup knot on the rope, below the ZIGZAG, before re-engaging the cams to continue the ascent 

Variations for blocking the ends 

Blocking one of the rope ends allows use of the ZIGZAG backup.

• A butterfly knot is very secure, but can be difficult to untie once you've arrived at the top

• Blocking with a friction hitch will be easy to disconnect in all situations. Beware of cantilever loading on the connector

Installing the access system 

Arriving at the top

Optimize the quality of placement for your connectors, to avoid any rubbing or poor positioning that presents a risk of opening or breaking the carabiner. In case of doubt, use steel connectors certified to the ANSI Z359.12 standard, which have locking sleeves that can withstand external and side loads of 16 kN. Note: this strength dœs not protect against the risk of accidental opening due to rubbing. If you are unable to mitigate the risks of rubbing and/or poor positioning of the connectors, use a different technique.

Click here to buy the ZIGZAG now!

Transporting brash, logs, equipment or even tidying up after a job has never been easier! Here at Life-Gear.com, we have an impressive array of heavy duty material handling trolleys.

Available to buy or hire we have a selection that covers all applications. Whether you are manoeuvring through tough terrain or going through a Forest, we have you covered!

Which one is best for you?!

Our most economical and best selling trolley is the Economical Log Tube Trolley. With a maximum Load of 250kg, length of 915mm and width of 430mm this log trolley was originally designed for heavy duty industrial use and large steel pipes.

Click here for further information

The Forestry Log Trolley  - Long Pipe/ Log is designed for manoeuvring longer logs than the Economical Log trolley. Our Forestry log trolley has a maximum load of 300kg, length of 1515mm and width of 555mm, however, both this model and the model above have solid wheels.

Click here for further information

For a more compact solution, the LiftinGear log/ tube trolley is brilliant for heavy duty industrial and forestry work. This Trolley takes logs or pipes up to 6 meters long. Removable handles help to steer and to tip the trolley, making it easy to manoeuver and remove logs.

Click here for further information

Heavy duty brash, log Arborist and forestry trolley is by far the most practical and flexible tool for manoeuvring logs and brash. With solid puncture proof rubber tyres,  maximum capacity of 500kg, a width of 1020mm/ height of 892mm this trolley enables users to stack more logs than any of our other trolleys at once. You may think this trolley is extremely bulky and difficult to transport however, due to the removable side bars users can easily assemble and disassemble the log trolley.

Click here for further information

Overall each trolley has their benefits. For an economical solution to carrying logs, the Economical Log Tube Trolley is most favoured among Arborist and Forestry workers. Although if users need to  manoeuver a large number of logs with the need for a high capacity the Heavy duty brash, log Arborist and Forestry trolley is a great choice.

22,000 road impact incidents in England in 2013 were caused by objects falling from vehicles. When transporting any equipment, logs or brash it is fundamental all loads are secure. When transporting any goods it's vitally important that you ensure that all your loads are secure or you risk damaging them. If an unsecured load falls there's a risk of injuries and even death! To avoid damaging your goods or causing any fatal accidents, it is important you ensure you secure your load, and our range of Load Restraint Systems  allow you to do just that.

We supply everything from ratchet lashings to load binder chains - whatever your requirements may be, we're confident you'll be able to find the load restraint option to meet them. Here are some of the load restraint products we have to offer:

If you are transporting heavy goods it's crucial that you use the appropriate load restraint to prevent your load from falling off your vehicle. These ratchet lashings are one of our most sought-after load restraint products, and can secure a huge variety of different loads. To view our range of ratchet lashings, please click here!

A cargo bar is a load restraint product that is more suited for pickup trucks and other large vehicles whilst their in transit. The bar is held in place by high-grip rubber feet and the bar is constructed from lightweight aluminium. The cargo bar can be adjusted from 2350 - 2720mm by using the ratchet mechanism, placed across the width of the vehicle to prevent anything from sliding off the vehicle. To purchase this ratchet cargo bar, please click here.

If you're looking for an affordable, heavy-duty load restraint solution, our load binder sets could be exactly what you're looking for! The sets include a load binder, a load binder chain, and a pair of hooks. Each load binder kit has it's own maximum breaking strength, so please check the kit you're purchasing is suitable for your requirements. For more information on our load binder sets, please click here.

No matter how heavy your loads are, or the size of the vehicle you're transporting these goods are on, our load restraint systems will ensure that they're secure whilst it's in transit. To view our entire range of load restraint products, please click here.