Rope access

Rope access is a form of work positioning, initially developed from techniques used in climbing and caving, which applies practical ropework to allow workers to access difficult-to-reach locations without the use of scaffolding, cradles or an aerial work platform. Rope access technicians descend, ascend, and traverse ropes for access and work while suspended by a harness or a work seat. The support of the rope should eliminate the likelihood of a fall altogether. Rope access workers use a back-up fall arrest system in the unlikely failure of their primary means of support. This redundant system is usually achieved by using two ropes - a working line and a safety line.

The most common applications for modern rope access include inspection, surveying, maintenance, and construction on bridges, dams, wind turbines, towers, buildings, geologic slopes, and industrial plants. While inspection is the most common application, welding, cutting and heavy material handling can be accomplished by rope access professionals using specialized procedures. The industry is characterised by rigorous adherence to the several key safety characteristics which include such criteria as:

Rope access to a turret clock

• When working a rope access technician always has at least 2 attachments, each having an independent anchorage point.
• When the worker is supported by ropes, each of the worker's ropes will have a fail-safe descent mechanism.
• All secondary tools and equipment (e.g. drills, sealant, etc.) are attached by lanyards to the worker's harness to avoid danger to people below.
• A minimum of two trained technicians are required for any job, each with the ability to rescue the other if needed.
• All technicians are independently assessed.
• All equipment is regularly inspected and maintained.
• Carefully refined codes of practice and working systems are used.

This approach has meant very few accidents since the beginning of this activity around 1980s.

Typical Applications

Typical applications include:

• Inspection, painting and construction on offshore oil platforms and power plants.
• Inspection, surveying, maintenance on wind turbines.
• Inspection, surveying, maintenance, and construction on bridges and dams.
• Window cleaning, repair and aircraft warning light maintenance on high-rise buildings.
• Maintenance on aerials, telecommunication and electrical transmission towers (pylons).
• Construction assist on stadiums, spires, and other unique shape structures.
• Geologic slopes.
• Inspection, documentation and access to large building façades.

References

http://www.irata.org/publications.htm IRATA International Code Of Practice

External links

• IRATA International - Industrial Rope Access Trade Association
• SPRAT - Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians