AALA 2
Judge Diane Cotton found that fundamental rules had been broken leading to the death of Gerry Hedley in 1990.
In 1997, the judge found in favour of Mr Hedley's widow after her husband was killed having been left, tied to just - one belay anchor (ice screw) high on the North Face of the Tour Ronde. In the ensuing fall by the guide (who was working at heighth) the single anchor pulled out. And yet in 2006: 'The AALA stated, 'The Regulations are too prescriptive and we fundamentally disagree with the principle that two ropes or, two (belay) anchor points will make a significant difference to our sectors (climbing/mountaineering for gain) safety record.' The Health & Safety Executive were / are trying to implement a new European Directive regarding client safety. It was thought apparently quite wrongly that any measure that increased client safety would be welcomed. http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd204.pdf
Just a single anchor belay apparently, the type of belay still acceptable to the AALA in 2006. The colour picture above, accompanied an article: 'Protect and Survive'(?) about a safety seminar that took place at Plas-y-Brenin in 1989. Just twelve months later, Mr Hedley was pulled from the Tour Ronde. So much for PyB safety seminar's.
