What is Rope Access?
IRATA International’s rope access system is a secure way of working at a height where you will need to use a rope and other relevant equipment in order to gain access to and from the position you will be carrying out your work.
The idea of using rope access methods is to complete the job effectively and efficiently, with as few accidents, incidents, or injuries as possible. The workspace must be a safe space, which is maintained by a colleague at all times. Before you complete the task at hand, careful consideration must go into the planning of the job ensuring you and everybody else is safe at all times.
Here at PMP Utilities, we have trained our own surveyors and engineers to carry out their tasks via rope access. Our rope access teams have many years of knowledge and experience in what to do regarding ropes.
Rope Access vs Scaffolding
In the construction industry, scaffolding is the preferred choice because it is a temporary structure that can hold a team of workers, who can carry heavy materials and can easily and quickly the building site. Scaffolding is a safe and secure when working at a considerable height.
Whereas rope access has different uses compared to scaffolding. Rope access is used in high risk, confined spaces where you wouldn’t be able to place scaffolding or aerial platforms.
Advantages of Rope Access
- Accessibility – A rope access solution can reach inaccessible locations – not only just height but depth too.
- Safety – There are obvious risks that come with working at height, but as long as you follow the guidelines it is a safe activity.
- Speed – Quick process setting up and taking down a rope access system
- Space – Rope access takes up hardly any space
- Cost effective – Many businesses have realised that they can make huge savings from using rope access to provide a solution to their access problems
Disadvantages of Rope Access
- Perception – As we have mentioned rope access is very safe, but many businesses still have this perception that it is dangerous.
- Working area is more limited than other methods
Who Uses Rope Access?
Rope access has started to become a popular job across the UK with jobs including inspections, maintenance, rescue, and field services in high risk confined spaces. It is mostly used by people who need to climb e.g. rock climbers, window washers, bridge inspectors and many more.
Rope access is known as one of the best and safest way to work in considerable height and depth situations.
You must have the appropriate documented risk assessments while completing an operation using rope access, and this is no different for remote inspection. With remote inspection many companies do not provide enough detailed information which is then needed by the engineers for making critical decisions.
However, here at PMP we supply qualified, independent assessments, reports and interpretation leading to comprehensive and appropriate recommendations.
Also, all operatives must have the required training needed to carry out rescues.
Visit our home page: https://www.pmp-utilities.co.uk/
Content provided by Piranha Solutions
