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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for the ladder descent or ascent.
   • Select clothing, footwear and personal protective equipment suitable for the caving activity and conditions.
   • Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
   • Confirm protocols for communications between climber and belayer.
   • Identify position of ladder in relation to natural features to account for obstacles, hazards and techniques.
   • Attach and adjust belay equipment to self and tie knots suitable for the established belay system.
   • Complete equipment safety checks prior to descent, ascent, or belaying.
2. Descend and ascend and vertical ladders in caves.
   • Use safety procedures at bottom, top of and throughout descents and ascents to minimise risk to self and others present.
   • Use appropriate posture and fluent laddering techniques to descend and ascend cave ladders.
   • Utilise techniques for resting on a ladder to reduce fatigue.
   • Safely approach, avoid or negotiate hazards to descend and ascend in a controlled manner.
   • Maintain effective communication with belayer throughout descents and ascents.
   • Use techniques that minimise damage to equipment and the cave environment during climbs.
3. Belay ladder climbers during descents and ascents.
   • Avoid or negotiate hazards and use safety procedures to minimise risk to self and others present.
   • Establish belaying position and attach self to anchor, as required, to allow effective and safe use of belay system.
   • Maintain rope tension to minimise fall distance and ensure climber movement is not unduly restricted.
   • Monitor climber progress constantly, and maintain clear communication with climber.
   • Arrest falls promptly using technique suitable to belaying device and situation.
   • Safely and efficiently secure climber using tie off techniques; release tie off and allow climber to continue.
4. Self-belay during ladder descents and ascents.
   • Attach self to suitable belay device for climb with back up to maintain safety in the event of a fall.
   • Use appropriate posture and laddering techniques to execute self-belayed ladder descents and ascents.
   • Control self-belay system to execute safe and controlled ladder descents and ascents.
   • Utilise features of back up belay system in the event of a fall to self-arrest, self-rescue and complete climb.