TREESTAND SAFETY: Consumer Product Safety Commission By Richard L. Holdcraft, BA, MS, HHD Consulting Group LLC
Jan 19, 2009 - 12:54:18 AM
Prior to 2004, treestands, ladder stands and safety harnesses were being produced by the hundreds of thousands by many companies and sold throughout the United States. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that approximately 1.4 million treestands are sold each year. What most hunters do not realize is that prior to 2004 there was no regulatory oversight of the products being sold. There were absolutely no controls over the design and construction of the stands or harnesses. Consequently, there were many material and structural defects and hunters were experiencing serious and often fatal injuries.
Today there are standards for the design and construction of treestands, ladder stands and fall arrest systems. Also, the CPSC closely monitors these products sold on the market. The CPSC staff is also participating in voluntary standards activities to develop safety-related performance requirements for treestands and treestand fall arrest systems (full-body harnesses) typically used by hunters. The voluntary standards establish the procedures and requirements for testing treestand load capacity, static stability, and repetitive loading capacity. The standards also establish the test methods for dynamically evaluating fall arrest systems. The standards include:
ASTM F2125, Standard Test Method for Treestand Static Stability
ASTM F2126, Standard Test Method for Treestand Static Load Capacity
ASTM F2127, Standard Test Method for Treestand Adherence
ASTM F2128, Standard Test Method for Treestand Repetitive Loading Capability
ASTM F2337, Standard Test Method for Treestand Fall Arrest Systems
In 2005, an estimated 5,686 injuries associated with treestand use were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. From 1980 - 2001, CPSC staff is aware of 63 deaths associated with treestands. The majority of injuries/deaths resulted from hunters falling out of treestands while not wearing a safety harness. In some instances, hunters wearing safety harnesses suffered serious injury or death after becoming entangled or suspended in the harness for extended periods without a means of self-rescue.
Since 2001, there have been at least 7 reported cases in which hunters wearing full body harnesses were killed, injured or left dangling after falling from trees because they were unable to execute a means of self rescue.
To find out if your treestand, ladder stand or fall arrest system has been recalled go to www.cpsc.gov. At the home page click on Recalls and Product Safety News. Then click on Product Description. In the search field type in one of the following; treestands, tree stands, ladder stands, safety harness, safety belt, fall arrest system, then click on Simplify Search. When you identify your product, hit the word Find.
There will be detailed information regarding your product and instructions from the manufacturer on what to do or how to get a replacement. Some of the manufacturers of recalled stands or harnesses include; Ameristep, API, Grand XX, Hunter's View, O'Man, Tree Lounge, Rivers Edge, Summit, and Warren and Sweat.
Never use a treestand, ladder stand or safety harness that is defective and has been recalled by the manufacturer. All accidents, injuries or deaths involving treestands, ladder stands or safety harnesses should be reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Click on the Unsafe Product link and complete the incident report form online. You may be saving someone's life ………
