Rope access

Rope access or industrial climbing 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 their harness. Sometimes a work seat may be used. The support of the rope is intended to eliminate the likelihood of a fall altogether, but a back-up fall arrest system is used in case of the unlikely failure of the primary means of support. This redundancy system is usually achieved by using two ropes - a working line and a safety line.[1]

Rope access window cleaning of Portside Tower in Cape Town
Façade painting in Moscow. Note the unsafe behaviour: the painter is not wearing a safety rope and a fall arrester with shock absorber, he lacks a helmet and safety boots, he drank a half litre of vodka on his lunch break, and is using a Figure 8 descender which is not suitable for work.
Rope access to a turret clock
Rope access technician performing maintenance work on a building

Trade associations such as IRATA have mandatory policies where member companies must submit all accident, incident and near miss occurrences to permit evaluation and comparison of information from an entire industry. This highlights any trends in incidents and assists in the evolution of equipment and procedures allowing continuing improvement to work practices. The above techniques along with the trade association’s organic approach has meant very few accidents since the beginning of this activity around the 1980s.[2]

  • Performing repairs on oil platforms and rigs in Iran - Painting cutting brushes and ...

References
  1. Industrial Rope Access, Best Practices & Industry Standards, Jan Holan
  2. Health and Safety, IRATA.
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