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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for the cave abseil.
   • Select clothing, footwear and personal protective equipment suitable for the cave abseil and conditions.
   • Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
   • Confirm protocols for communications between abseiler and belayer.
   • Interpret route description; identify position of natural features and the abseil route.
   • Attach descending device to abseil rope and tie knots suitable for the established belay system.
   • Complete equipment safety checks prior to abseiling or belaying.
2. Abseil vertical cave pitches.
   • Use safety procedures at top of and throughout descent to minimise risk to self and others present.
   • Use appropriate posture and abseiling techniques to execute descents.
   • Safely approach, avoid or negotiate hazards to descend in a controlled manner.
   • Maintain effective communication with belayer throughout descent.
   • Use techniques that minimise damage to equipment and the cave environment during abseil.
3. Belay abseilers during cave descents.
   • 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 abseiler movement is not unduly restricted.
   • Monitor abseiler progress constantly, and maintain clear communication with abseiler.
   • Arrest falls promptly using technique suitable to belaying device and situation.
   • Safely and efficiently secure abseiler using tie off techniques; release tie off and allow abseiler to continue.
4. Self-belay during cave descents.
   • Attach self to suitable belay device for descent with back up to maintain safety in the event of a fall.
   • Use appropriate posture and abseiling techniques to execute self-belayed descents.
   • Control self-belay system to execute safe and controlled descents.
   • Utilise features of back up belay system in the event of a fall to self-arrest, self-rescue and complete descent.