I was told recently the the petzl grigri is not a self locking device. this had me worried because i used the grugri every week to self belay and was wondering if anyone knew about a accident realting to the grigri.
(no i was not being dumb and ignoring the instructions just ignorant, the instructor had told me to use it the way i did.)

As you can tell alot of folk's just don't read the post the same way others do. The gri-gri is a great sport belay device, when you rule out human error, butit is very dangerouse for self belay. Due to the nature of the self belay the slake end of the rope (the part you would normaly have in you'r brake hand) could cross over the top of the cam and hold it in the open position(just like when you have to throw your climber a mile of slake to make a clip so you keep it closed with your finger) Only use a device that is intended for self belay.

I was told recently the the petzl grigri is not a self locking device. this had me worried because i used the grugri every week to self belay and was wondering if anyone knew about a accident realting to the grigri.
(no i was not being dumb and ignoring the instructions just ignorant, the instructor had told me to use it the way i did.)

I was told recently the the petzl grigri is not a self locking device.

......the instructor had told me to use it the way i did.)

Grigri's are pretty safe (depends on who is using it really) but they are not intended for self belaying. You may want to consider a device that is specifically designed for soloing/self-belaying.

You must tie backup knots. Very important.
You must fall upright, or modify the device so if you fall inverted it does not cross load the carabiner. Very important.
You must rig it correctly every time. Very important.

Grigri's are safe so long as you don't have to worry about impact forces on the protection. Don't use a Grigri for belaying a trad leader because the device allows very little rope to feed through it when the cam locks up. On the surface this might seem like a blessing since it can save you rope burn on your brake hand but in reality, the extra few inches of rope that feeds through a tube, munter, plate, etc provides a more dynamic belay thus lessening the impact forces on the whole system.
I have a grigri but only use it for newbies who I don't trust to keep their brake hand where its suppose to be and I never use it for trad.

:roll:

.....we must takes many variables into consideration. I think what you are hinting at is the question of a static belay, implying that a tuber style belay device like a Reverso, ATC, or Sherriff is somehow dynamic, or absorbs energy when braking, more so than a Grigri. The false notion that this lack of energy absorption somehow makes the Grigri less safe or suitable for only certain types of climbing (sport) is a thought, unfortunately, that many climbers have. Well this idea is just that - a false notion - meaning not true. Any tuber style belay device locks up as sharply and quickly as the Grigri if properly used.
......Energy absorption can be taken into account on climbs where the pro is sketchy in a variety of ways. First is your rope; the chief duty of energy absorption lies with this important piece of equipment. Climbing on an old tattered rope can largely increase the peak force felt on your highest piece. Shock absorbing lanyards like the Petzl Nitro or a Yates Screamer can be employed to limit peak force on a shoddy piece of gear. Using long runners or placing gear to avoid drag enables the full amount of paid out rope to be used in energy absorption (typically the larger the fall the softer it is because there is more rope to absorb the energy). Finally, the belayer's braking technique can greatly dissipate peak force energy, by jumping or springing upwards toward the first piece at the moment of impact. There are many other factors that determine the peak force felt by your highest piece of protection: the other pieces of gear, rope drag, friction on the rock as well as all the carabiners, weight of the belayer, distance of the fall, and the amount of rope paid out. With all that said I believe the belay device to be one of the least important links in the chain of energy absorption. I am sorry that we do not have any hard data to illustrate these ideas more clearly.

......our technical notice that is sold with the Grigri officially points out that this device was developed for gym use and well protected sport routes only. We do understand that climbers have taken certain liberties with equipment and developed applications outside of the parameters of its initially intended use.

Nothing is totally idiot proof.