What Is Rope Access?

Rope access is a technique for working at height that uses ropes and anchor points to achieve the desired work position. Rope access work is usually carried out while suspended in a safety harness, allowing the worker to ascend, descend and traverse a structure while working.

Rope access is an efficient way to work at height if you have the skills required to do it correctly.

Read on for more information about rope access safety, the types of work situation that suit rope access, and the different types of rope access equipment.

NOTE: This article should be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be treated as guidance for carrying out rope access work.

How does rope access work?

Rope access work typically requires two points of attachment: one rope for working, and another for fall protection. These may be referred to as the working line and the safety line.

In addition to these two lines, rope access workers should wear an appropriate safety harness. Not all harnesses are designed for rope access work, so rope access harnesses must be selected carefully.

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Anchor points are another essential part of rope access. These are combined with other pieces of specialist equipment (like ascenders / descenders) to control the ropes and move around the work site.

What is rope access used for?

Rope access is commonly used for cleaning windows on large buildings, which is probably where you have seen rope access in action most often.

But rope access can be useful in a wide variety of other work situations. For example…

• Inspecting and repairing walls, windows, roofs, etc.
• Adding bird proofing to buildings
• Installations and maintenance on tall structures (e.g. radio towers, oil rigs)

The dangers of rope access

Working at height is inherently risky, and so rope access comes with a lot of associated dangers. You should be aware of the following risks before attempting rope access work:

• Falls from height. If your rope access setup is unsound, or if you haven’t been trained in the correct rope access techniques, there is the obvious risk of falling from height (which can result in severe injuries or even death).
• Equipment failure. Ropes, anchors and safety harnesses can all fail if not regularly inspected and properly maintained.
• Falling objects. Whenever someone is working at height, there is a risk that they will drop something and cause damage below. This risk can be mitigated with the use of tool tethers.
• Rope injuries. Ropes may cause friction, potentially leading to rope burn.
• Getting stranded at height. If proper precautions are not taken, you may be unable to reach the ground safely and need to be rescued.

Rope access safety tips

Before you begin any rope access work, familiarise yourself with the below safety tips. Be sure to also check out the HSE’s working at height guidelines for important information that all construction workers should know.

• Always avoid working at height if you can. Look for other options that will avoid putting workers in risky positions.
• Ensure that workers are properly trained in rope access. Specialist rope access training will equip your workers with the skills and knowledge needed to work in accordance with safety laws and regulations.
• Always use proper rope access equipment. Don’t try to improvise a rope access system using items that weren’t specifically designed for this purpose.
• Conduct a full risk assessment before you begin. This crucial step will flag up any potential safety issues before they create a dangerous situation.
  
• Have rescue plan in place in case anything goes wrong. Leaving a worker stranded in midair can result in suspension trauma, so make sure you’ve got a way to get them down safely in the event that they’re unable to do it themselves.

Rope access equipment from SafetyLiftinGear

Safety equipment is an essential part of rope access work, and it needs to be reliable. At SafetyLiftinGear, we have a fantastic range of reliable rope access equipment available to buy at competitive prices. We stock sturdy gear from some of the industry’s best-known brands.

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Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/professional-window-cleaners-on-skyscraper-33505020/