a shunt is a rope grab
TBH I've had a look and there are so many different types it's hard to know what's needed
basically, you need back point for fall arrest. you could use this point for restraint too, but a front point give much more freedom for restraint
I can see your point and you are correct, except, most specialised climbing eqiupment is far superior to the work releted equipment we use. I do know a very keen rock climber who makes up his own restraints, arrest type equipment. He did display to a H&S inspector the advantage of this on a site, the restriants we were using were approved, but lethal. The lanyard was the arrest type, a bit like a bungie coiled up, only problem was it was longer on extend than the drop we were working at, the H&S guy had to agree with the experianced rock climber, if I remember correctly he used those shunts that Andy mentioned but he also used some type of link rope between, I guess this was a type of shock absorber, but I do not know for sure, I just know that a full body harness and restriant type fall arrest lanyards were issued thereafter.
