7 Reasons Rope Access Companies Can Safely Perform Dangerous Work

Rope access companies operate safely because they follow strict rules and procedures. These seven reasons lay out how rope access companies perform seemingly dangerous tasks with little risk.

At first glance, it may appear that technicians for rope access companies put themselves in harm’s way every day. But these carefully trained and highly skilled workers have an amazingly strong record of safety because they follow industry-standard safety and job performance procedures.

Rope access is essentially a type of work positioning that uses techniques developed for caving and climbing to perform inspections, surveying, construction, maintenance, repair and other services in difficult-to-reach locations. This procedure saves companies thousands in downtime because workers can reach difficult locations quickly and efficiently, without scaffolding or platforms. It also makes reaching otherwise impossible locations possible.

But some worry about turning to rope access companies because the procedure seems dangerous. In reality, however, technicians couldn’t be more safe and secure.

Here are seven reasons work access companies can perform seemingly dangerous tasks with very little risk:

1. All technicians work in pairs.

There are always at least two rope access technicians working on a project, and each is capable of rescuing the other in the event of an accident. In most cases, there are more than two people present during work, but rope access companies never let employees work along. That’s just asking for trouble.

2. Every technician is well-trained and individually assessed.

Companies don’t leave anything to chance, so every rope access worker is carefully trained, then evaluated by another party to make sure he or she can do the job. Every effort is made to ensure that every employee is as good as the next.

3. Equipment is inspected and repaired regularly.

Equipment is sturdy and has built-in failsafe mechanisms, but employees are trained to inspect and reinspect equipment frequently both at the shop and on the jobsite to make sure everything is in perfect working order. Damaged equipment is never used.

4. There are always two points of rope attachment.

Every rope has at least two points of attachment with independent anchor points, making it almost impossible for a rope to come loose and cause a worker to plunge. If the rope is secure, so are the workers.

5. There’s always a failsafe descent mechanism.

If a worker descends a rope more quickly than expected, that can lead to severe injury. That’s why decent is controlled, and there’s always a failsafe descent mechanism that makes sure the drop into a confined space or down the side of a structure happens at the safest possible speed.

6. Tools are secured with secondary ropes.

When tools and equipment like drills, tubes of sealant or testers are used at a rope access job site, each item is secured with a rope, lanyard or other device to keep it from falling. That limits the risk to those who must be below the suspended workers, preventing head injuries and other catastrophic consequences of dropped tools.

7. Industry organisations carefully define working systems and practices.

The International Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), made up of a companies in South Africa, the UK, Australia and other locations around the world, defines work procedures and standard practices to which member companies are expected to adhere. Smart users of rope access companies make sure they only use the services of trade association members.

Because the rules are strict, the procedures are certain and the technicians are highly trained, rope access companies can provide their services with minimal risk. That means there’s no reason for anyone to worry.

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