What’s New in the ASTRO, AVAO, VOLT, and SEQUOIA PLUS?
Petzl has updated several of its most widely used professional work harnesses, including the ASTRO, AVAO, VOLT, and SEQUOIA PLUS.
There are few places on Earth where the scale of human engineering and the vastness of the universe collide as dramatically as they do at the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO). Recently, the team at ARS Rope Safety (ARS) had the distinct honor of being contracted to provide site-specific safety programming and technical solutions for this historic facility. Located atop I’oligam Du’ag (Manzanita Shrub Mountain), Kitt Peak isn’t just a hub for global astronomy; it is a sacred site within the Tohono O’odham Nation, and working there requires a deep respect for both the science and the land.
Kitt Peak hosts the most diverse collection of research telescopes in any one place in the world. For a safety professional, the architecture of these massive structures—like the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope—presents unique challenges.
Standard fall protection isn’t always enough when you are dealing with the complex curvatures and extreme heights of telescope domes. Our mission was to ensure that the personnel operating these “eyes on the universe” have the highest standard of protection possible.
Working alongside KPNO Operations Manager Peter McMahon and Safety Supervisor Crystal Cardoza, our lead technicians, Damian Noe and Josh Parafinik, conducted a deep-dive evaluation of the facility’s most challenging access points.
Client: Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) / NOIRLab
Location: Schuk Toak District, Tohono O’odham Nation, Arizona
Lead Technicians: Damian Noe, Josh Parafinik, Dale Stewart
I. Executive Summary
ARS Rope Safety was engaged by KPNO to evaluate and modernize fall protection protocols across their astronomical research facilities. The project required a blend of SPRAT-compliant rope access and OSHA-mandated safety programming to ensure technician safety during the maintenance of massive optical and radio telescopes.
II. The Challenge
The unique architecture of telescope domes—specifically the Mayall 4-meter and WIYN 3.5-meter telescopes—presents significant “challenging access points” that traditional fall protection often fails to address. KPNO required a partner who could:
III. The Solution
ARS conducted a comprehensive site audit and implemented a multi-tiered safety framework:
IV. Results
By integrating SPRAT disciplines with OSHA compliance, ARS provided KPNO with a roadmap for safe, efficient maintenance. Our ongoing partnership ensures that the observatory’s safety team is equipped with the documentation, training, and rescue strategies necessary to help keep our next decade of astronomical, wild discovery safe while discovering the universe around us.
Standing on the summit, surrounded by nearly two dozen active telescopes, you realize the importance of the work being done here. From the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey to public stargazing programs, KPNO is dedicated to helping humanity understand its place in the universe.
At ARS Rope Safety, our job is to protect those who do that work. Whether it’s in the oil industry, construction, or at the peak of a sacred mountain, we provide technical rescue and rope access solutions that bring workers home safely.
We are honored to support the mission of NOIRLab and the Tohono O’odham Nation, ensuring that the search for what lies “beyond” is built on a foundation of safety.
Petzl has updated several of its most widely used professional work harnesses, including the ASTRO, AVAO, VOLT, and SEQUOIA PLUS.
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