In the Early 1980s, Climbing Equipment Lacked Basic Safety Standards
Peter Metcalf · Black Diamond Equipment: Peter Metcalf · Oct 28, 2024 · at 17:08
Peter Metcalf, founder of Black Diamond Equipment, discusses the regulatory vacuum and rise of product liability lawsuits against outdoor gear manufacturers in the 1980s.
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“There were no climbing standards at this time. There was no quality assurance standards at this time, and there was no labeling standards at this time, but because of this rapid change in tort law this became just the dream of plaintiff's attorneys going after companies when somebody got hurt.”
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