Should Chains or Straps be Used on Monolifts?

Safety measures should be adopted to keep everyone safe, straps and/or chains do that. Even with good spotters, it goes bad quickly. Hopefully, it won't take the death of someone to change the current policy on it.

While I think straps would be a good idea this situation isn't a good exampe....

1. Because Bolton had to say take it 3-4 times and nobody responded. The spotters and head judge need to pay closer attention.

2. Because Bolton just dropped the bar on purpose, he said "nobody took it so I had to drop it." While the spotters have a responsibility to the lifter I think the lifter has a responsiblity to do everything possible not to dump the bar for the safety of the spotters.

This is completely offtopic, but why don't more meet directers use the friggin reverse monolifts? so that the audience actually can see the lifter?

If they used them straps could be implemented and be far less intrusive to audience then 1000lbs of metal infront of the lifter.

Ouch ?

How is the spotter?

Anonymous,

I agree, more meet directors should use reverse monolifts. Maybe a trend can be started...you never know...

Kenneth Stone

you do realize that was nearly 1200lbs right? i dont think bolton had any choice in the matter

Spotter was ok. There were pictures of him taken after the meet that showed some bruising and abrasions, but he was smiling. Lucky guy.

I have been in the same situation, granted it was much less weight, but after Andy realized he had lost control of the weight he said take it multiple times, and the spotters took too long to respond. I don't think he just dropped it I think he held on as long as he could before the weight slid off. At the set up and rack sometimes the spotters just are not as attentive as during the attempt.

As far as reverse monolifts, if a meet director has already shelled out 3-4 grand on a monolift he is going to continue to use it as long as possible.

On topic, I can't see any reason not to use straps, it is a very small price compared to the other expenses.

I squat with chains in training and think they are perfect for catching weight if something goes wrong. I think straps or chains are beneficial to the spotters and lifter because a dumped bar never hit the floor. Which helps protect everyone involved.

For those that do use chains or straps on their monolift, isn't there a danger that the hands will get pinched on those that use a wide grip? Just curious.

Your hands would either be inside or outside of where the chains/straps are. I have dumped weight in a powerrack and never come close to pinching a hand. I am sure there is some risk, but overall it would be safer for everyone involved. If you dropped the bar your hands wouldn't even be around to get pinched, I think this is where the benifit comes in the most, if you hang on and the spotters catch you it's not going to hit the chain anyway.

if you do use them u can slide them back and forth to compensate your grip

The TV coverage was awesome by the way.

Its only going to be a matter of time when someone seriously gets hurt. Then the meet director will sued then wish he had used straps. Heck even in the warmup room is it bad. I've seen more people get injured there due to thr lack of spotter then on the platform. By using straps doesn't make you any less weaker or sometype of puss. Its safer for everyone.

Someone needs to send that picture into failblog.org

Straps are much safer than chains. The chains tend to scratch the bar & the monolift. If you get a finger stuck between a chain & a bar it will probably get pinched off. The straps will hurt but you will probably save the finger.

We have straps on our monolift, it never effects the lift. We also have suspended straps for walking out on out squat stands.

Heavy duty flat canvas straps are the best. Crains use them for hoisting steel up the sides of buildings, not chains.

i can see the chains being neccessary but they should only be down like about a foot from the ground, i wouldnt set them up where like the lifter was coming within 2-3 inches of the bottom of the chains with their squats, id keep em way at the bottom for safety precautions, but i dont use a monolift so we just use the power rack and hope that in the meets the judges catch us and we never dump

We have chain on the monolift on our home gym and and always believed they were important for safety and did not interfere with the lift. We had a lifter pass out under the bar, and had it not been for the chains, the lifter and spotters would have been injured. We don't allow anyone to squat in our gym without the chains, you just never know what could go wrong.

It was a bad set up gone really bad...the monolift is the right idea and needs to be "evolved"...Andy handled the previous weight easy. It's just a matter of time and WPC Worlds will be the time....

We use chains in our gym AND at the meet. We've never had a complaint. They work great. We've never had a lifter dump from top and I don't know how the chains would handle that instant stress.

Mike, explain "evolved" when it comes to the mono. Stay Strong, J.R. Bolger

well havingthem might incourage guys and girls who cut lifts short cause there scared to go down. on the other hand just get better spotters. they need to watch and the head judge should have called for the taking of the bar. saftey of the lifter is NUMBER 1

We have one of the elite mono racks, and we also use Marc Bartley's straps. It has saved us several times. I have blacked out at the bottom of a heavy squat and the straps saved me. It makes sense to me, the straps are about $70.00 well worth the price if you ask me!

John

Yeah, some spud straps would be awesome. Like they say, safety first!

Scary! What happened to the spotter? Injuries?

I believe safety must be first, either bands or chains should be used. If Im not mistaken i think some feds already use chains on the monolift. Regarding the video, Andy was shouting out loud for the spotters to take it, it took him alot of effort just to off-rack the weight which is an indication something's wrong. the spotters should have been more attentive, just my opinion...

I have a little good and some VERY bad experience with safety in monolifts. My friend owns a monolift and when squatting in it we always have it chained. The chains never interfere with the lifts and has saved lives several times. One time I started to black out 3/4 of the way back up with almost 700lbs on my back. When I came to the bar was settled in the chains and I was standing injury free in front of the monolift. About 3 months later my training partner (AWPC world record holder in the squat) had about 935 flip off his shoulders (bent bar made it camber over). No fault of his own but there was no way we could stop it. His spotters were 340lbs, 340lbs, and 420lbs. Three world champion deadlifters and we could only get the lifter out of the way. He would have been seriously hurt without the chains.

Fastforward to fall of 2008. On my opening attempt of 710 (easy squat for me as I had been doing walkout squats of 775) my knees kicked in and I lost my balance. I had purchased chains for the meet director, I put them on the monolift, and in all his infinite wisdom ("These are openers so there shouldn't be any problem.") he took them off. I luckly fell forward and my training partner/spotter tore his arms up deflecting the bar away from me. I could have been seriously injured but was not. Had I been injured due to the actions of the meet director I would now be the owner of everything that used to be his.

Leap forward to AAPF Nationals in spring 2009. My training partner (Junior 308) is attempting a WR squat at around 804. It should be an easy attempt as he can easily double a walked out 815. As he hits depth his right knee buckles and he falls over backward with his leg pinned under him. All three spotters are pinned by the weight. He ended up needing knee surgery to repair the damage caused that could have been averted by chains or straps. It could have been worse...

The worst part is the attitude taken by high up league officials. A devil may care attitude just won't cut it when a jury finds out that safety measures were over ridden and that lifters were negligently put at risk.

There is a time coming soon where a lifter will be seriously hurt and a league will be successfully sued due to safety negligence issues. They think they are covered by the signed waivers, but you can not sign away negligence. Lack of use of known safety equipment is NEGLIGENCE and can be legally punished.

Proudly sponsored by Titan Support Systems Inc.

We've used the chain for a while now. They are quick and easy to adjust for different hieght squatters. In training we set the chains just a couple of inches lower than each guys squats. In case of a dump, or collapse; the bar won't be able to take the lifter or spotters down any farther than is neccessary to prevent as much potential for back injury or torn quads or knee ligaments as possible. They do nothing to help or hurt the lift. You can't always know that the spotters will be 100% alert and reliable (humans are humans). But the chains (or straps) never get distracted. They are always on the job. At times we've had to squat with only a back spotter and a mono operator and we've went up to over 900 that way to stay on pace for a meet. On occasion we've missed and were able to let the chains have the weight at the bottom. I've worked a meet that used the straps and they worked very well too. They are just not as quick to adjust for different lifter heights to keep any bar drop to a minimum. I would like to see one or the other used at meets.

( There is a time coming soon where a lifter will be seriously hurt and a league will be successfully sued due to safety negligence issues. They think they are covered by the signed waivers, but you can not sign away negligence. Lack of use of known safety equipment is NEGLIGENCE and can be legally punished. )

No sir you are wrong. You sign the waiver knowing and admitting that this is a dangerous sport and you agree to take part knowing there are no chains or straps allowed in competition as of right now but you take part any way. Ignorance is no excuse. Are you going to sue the equipment that sold you the squat suit that you tried to squat 300 lbs. more than you can actually squat.
Did the Monolift make you fall or did the Squat suit or did ignorance such as trying to squat 900 when you only really squat 600. I am not a lawyer but have talked to plenty of them and sir you are responsable for your own actions. If you pay money and sign a waiver to do something that you know has a chance of hurting you than you are own your own. If you don't want to take a chance of getting hurt, stay home. I you do come to a meet, man up just like all the ones before you and take responsablity for your own actions.
People blame spotters, look at it this way, you have never met these people before but yet you lay under 7 or 8oo lb. in a shirt that has great pertential of failing but yet you expect them to 100% of the time keep you from getting hurt or killed, why is that. You can't lift the weight in a shirt but yet expect people that you have never met to catch it and save your lift that isn't even wearing a shirt or a belt.
Even funnier, if you get lucky and make the lift then you are a world record holder and if you miss it and they barely catch it and SAVE your lift, then they are some weak assholes that don't know what they are doing, now that is some funny shit, right.
Why don't you talk about suing the company that sold your dumb ass the shirt? Shouldn't they have known you are to weak to handle such a garment?
After all they sold you a shirt that can make you think you are superman and lift an extra 2 or 300 more lbs.
Stupidity will get you noting in a court of law.

there is absolutely no reason not to use straps or chains......

there is absolutely no negative side and a lot of safety to gain

Go back a few pages on this site and look at Ed Koo and his second attempt (Squat @ 705) at the USPL National meet last week. This happened without a monolift, but maybe there needs to be a ruling that past a certain weight certain safety measures are required. Also, in regards to the monolift, yes it's for safety, but any time a lifter feels safer, they up the weight again.
Also, back in the days before the monolift you were required to walk the weight out, and sometimes with help, walk the weight back in. The weight used was not as crazy as it is today, because walking it out and back in required technique. I think the monolift with straps if "only" used for safety would be nice. The problem is this safety device is now being used to up someone's attempt.
I also agree that warm up rooms at a lot of meets look like pre 1960's gyms. You go out after warming up on 2 stands that are truck tire rims with poles welded to them with hooks. (That are often without collars or spotters.) This is were I think the first lawsuits will appear if federations don't set standards for the warm up areas.

There has already been law suits and they lost.
The lifter knows what they are getting into and have to be responsable for there on actions.
Sue the equipment companies because there gear failed. LOL
Common sense tells me that If I don't like the looks of what equipment that is provided in the warm up room or any where else, then Im not using it.
No one makes you use there stuff, get your money or what ever and go home and dont ever go back.

I have never been to a meet that I got to see the warm up area before signing a waiver. Actually your usually required to send in your entry form and waiver a month or so ahead of the meet. There is also no area that says that you have inspected the warm up area or any equipment for that matter. The fact is that a waiver is not all inclusive and does not completely protect someone from legal action. People sue and win a lot more rediculous things than this, its stupid, but it happens.

Twagner is right, a waiver doesn't exclude one from all liability, especially when someone could have exercised due care.

I am the spotter in the photo and firstly, I ought to tell you I am ok. Just some bad bruising to the arms and leg and strain to the outer thigh muscle. I should also add that Andy escaped injury as well.

With regard the debate on safety, I guess I would be one of the first to suggest that we use chains when spotting such huge lifts. There were seven spotters on the bar - me behind and three each side. Yes, Andy called "take it", but how can you react to a bar weighing as much as a small car accelerating faster than Ferrari? Chains would have mitigated the problem without a doubt.

Glenn

The Waiver is pretty powerful in a court of law.

Sure, we have heard the outcome of ridiculous lawsuits, like the lady who won $1M because she spilled McDonald's coffee on herself. However, McD's never had her sign a waiver.

You are not likely to find a Judge who is going to throw Amateur Sports under a Bus, because that is what they would be doing if they invalidate a Waiver. It would set a prescedent that would permeate throughout Amateur Sports. I don't believe that will happen.

The Meet Director, and Staff's greatest potential problem, is if the Waiver is not thorough enough. A Good Waiver will include the warmup area, and will make the Lifter acknowledge that Powerlifting is a dangerous sport, and that they are putting themselves in danger by participating. A Good Waiver also holds harmless everybody working for the Meet Director, and the facility.

All of that being said, I think the safety straps are a very good idea, and I may be purchasing them for my Monolift, perhaps even in the next month.

I think this is comparable to automobile drag racing, in that if your car goes faster then a certain time in the quarter mile, you MUST have a roll cage. If you are lifting over a half a ton on your back, you should have some type of safety device. At this point I think I'd rather see the lifter without any spotters and just dump the bar if he got stuck.

Every lifting meet I've been to, and alot of the ones I watch on here, (including multiply meets) have these spotters that look like they just got off the high school bus. Even with big guys spotting you, things can go bad quickly. I can't believe straps haven't been mandated years ago. Hopefully some of the fed. presidents see this and start the ball rolling before someone is seriously injured or killed.

I agree with you about the straps, but dumping the bar sans spotters is easier said than done...... what if the lifter goes forward? It would suck to have to dump a squat over your head.... or at the very least: anyone who has ever lost a squat backwards in the bottom can attest to how unpleasant it is to have all that stored energy from the suit, wraps, and your muscles propel you through the air rather than pushing you and the weight upward......

In signing a waiver you have a "reasonable expectation" of certain things happening. You have an expectation that those recieving protection from the waiver will act in a way promoting safety. You have an expectation of due dilligence by the promoter and the league to provide safe equipment and safety promoting rules.

The bottom line again is YOU CAN"T SIGN AWAY NEGLIGENCE as negligence is based in unreasonable and unforseen actions. We are members of a dangerous sport, but we have certain expectations of safety.

It is only a matter of time before someon gets seriously hurt due to lack of safety devices. Since we are having this conversation then we can acknowledge that these safety devices are "common knowledge" and are in "common usage". This is the breeding ground for a serious lawsuit that could damage or end our sport if we do not do anything to take control of our own safety.

This is my opinion as one who HAS fallen both with and without chains. For those with opinions that lack similar experience I value your opinions not at all!

Signing a waiver does not give a meet director or any promoter the right to be negligent. As for If you don't like the warm up area go home, it's always nicer to arrive at a location where everything is in order, and it's not an issue. People that train hard for several months don't always want to walkout when they know they should. It means you just wasted your effort for nothing. That's the mindset.
I agree that if the safety devices were not around then someone could simply say in court they did the best they could. Any sharp lawyer handling one of these suits today only needs to show up in court with a few easy to find safety devices which are currently being sold (and used), and the promoter is screwed.
"Gee I didn't know", doesn't sit well with a judge.
In closing I'm glad the spotter in this case got away with no major problems. Looks like a good wake up call for everyone promoting meets.

Cost for Safety Device and testing to see how the lifters feel about them:
$$

Cost for Lawyer and Court Fees: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

This one should be a no-brainer!