SUCCESSFUL SENDING
It’s important to examine what works when it comes to establishing effective zip line operator communications.
BY BEE LACY
It’s a gorgeous day despite the op- pressive heat of the 2014 summer. I shade my eyes as I smack the cable three times, telling my co-guide that he is clear to send our next guest down the zip line. With only one zip to go on the afternoon tour, we’re in the home stretch after a long day. A participant appears from between the trees, hand hovering over the cable waiting for my signal. Unfortunately, they don’t make it to the platform and, in a fit of nerves, they let go completely and slide out into the middle of the zip, coming to a rest in the belly. I grab my radio and call out the all- stop command: “Do not send. Do not send. Lead to Sweep, do not send. Do you copy?” I wait for the copy as I reassure the guest sitting mid-line. I am unnerved when my call is met with silence. I double check the channel, turn up my volume in case I missed the response, and try again. Still nothing. So far on this tour, my ex- perienced co-guide and I have managed to communicate effectively with each other. I reassure myself that he will follow the trained protocols—no “zip is clear” communication, no sending. My attention is split between wondering if the transmission went through and attempting to retrieve the stuck guest. I ask if they can pull themselves in but
know the answer even as they shake their head at me. Totally fine, this is what we trained for. I tie a prusik and begin to attach myself to the line. In that moment I hear the tell-tale whine of the cable, faint at first but rapidly gaining intensity. I look up in horror as another participant appears from between the trees. Training kicks in and I start to yell, “BRAKE!” while waving my arms in an exaggerated braking signal. The second participant slows themself enough that the midair collision is gentle, but clearly unnerving. Desperate to stop this situation from escalating any further, I yell the do-not- send sequence into my radio again. I repeat myself twice, loudly and in rapid succession, hoping that my co-guide hears me. I grab the rescue bag and, as I begin my descent, the guests begin truly panick- ing—shouting and waving their arms towards the sending platform. Dread curls in my gut as I hear the whine of the cable begin again… It’s been nearly 10 years, but the mem- ory of that day lives on. I feel the same sense of horror every time I revisit that tour in my mind. It is a nightmare that, despite advancements in technology and practices, staff and guests still experience today.
I consider myself lucky—no one was injured beyond bumps and bruises. Not all situations end this way, however, and each year, the industry experiences mid-air collisions and multiple-partici- pant incidents on zip lines. So, what can we do better?
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES
It’s important to examine what works for your park when it comes to es- tablishing effective zip line operator communications. Current industry practices for indicating a “clear zip line” include use of radios, specific verbiage or phrases, “buddy” checks with other staff members, visual cues, and cable tapping. While some operations use just one of these methods, success is most often found when a combination of signals and cues come together to indicate that, without a doubt, it’s safe to send anoth- er participant. To set staff and guests up for success, let’s break down these various factors. Visual cues. If you have an unobstruct- ed line of sight, visual cues, such as hand signals, flags, or the status of the braking system, can help to indicate a clear zip. However, if there is not a clear line of sight, or there are conditions that regularly disrupt the line of sight (wind blowing branches; looking into the sun), it’s important to understand that the sending guide is effectively flying blind. Their ability to verify a clear corridor will
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