Rope Access is an efficient mode of safely working at height or in difficult to gain access to locations. Recreational abseiling techniques have already been adapted and developed over time to provide safe systems of work that is now useful for industrial, construction and maintenance purposes across a range of industries and sectors.
Numerous associations and societies have already been intended to develop (and where possible regulate) safe standards of rope access operations, two of the greatest known of which will be the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), and the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT). Both are widely recognised internationally, although SPRAT is probably most prevalent throughout North America, with IRATA being the most dominant throughout Europe.
SPRAT defines rope access as discussing 'a set of techniques where ropes and specialized hardware are used as the primary method of providing access and support to workers. Generally a two-rope system is utilized: the working rope supports the worker and the safety rope provides back-up fall protection.'
IRATA defines their Industrial rope access systems as 'a safe approach to working at height where ropes and associated equipment are accustomed to gain access to and from the work place, also to be supported there'.
Although the specific training practices for technicians set out by SPRAT and IRATA, and the finer details of their guidelines for safe working practices differ in some ways, the essential principles of safe operations that are set out by both are the same. Amongst the most important of these principles are that technicians should be suitably been trained in both access and rescue, they must not are powered by their own but as part of a team, that suitable specialised equipment is employed, and that that all work is completed from two independently rigged lines, among which is the working line, upon which the technician is supported and allows upward and downward movement, and another is the backup line, in place as a fail safe fall protection line.
The advantages of Rope Access as a mode of access are multiple. The combination of specialist training and the use of specific techniques and specialised equipment allows safe, efficient, cost-effective and versatile solutions to just work at height and difficult access problems.
Technicians are independently trained and certified, and the techniques are based on caving and climbing techniques which were developed into a safe system of access for industrial purposes dating back to the 1970's. The evolution of technique and equipment since that time has led to the cheapest incidence of accidents in the whole access sector.
https://ropeaccessspecialistsuk.co.uk/best-rope-access-specialists-london/ and removing systems is quicker, and less disruptive than other access methods, and generally access can be gained to the task zone quicker, enabling faster completion
Less personnel requirements, less equipment and minimal downtime, are all factors which will make rope access more cost effective than the majority of alternatives, and systems could be adapted to safely provide solutions to a wide variety of work at height, vertical or difficult access scenarios, rendering it an exceptionally versatile access option.