One more time let’s talk about the importance of supervising technicians and pre-use checks on rigging and equipment before use. A number of incidences with sadly results for rope access technicians may have been prevented by providing relevant on site supervising and pre-work and pre-use equipment checking. The IRATA’s safety and health ‘topic sheet’ №29 contains key rules and recommendations about supervising procedures and checking equipment. Please, read the main of them to refresh your awareness in this subject.
Basic rules for rope access technicians
Every worksite run by a member company of IRATA International has a minimum of one IRATA Level 3 rope access safety supervisor on duty, who is in charge of ensuring the security of the rope access systems, as well as the Level 1 and Level 2 rope access technicians who operate under their guidance.
Rope access professionals ought to thoroughly inspect their own equipment, e.g. harnesses; anchor line devices; device lanyards; connectors, before starting work, to ensure it is in good condition.
Buddy checking by team members is a good practice that should be carried out at various points during the day by the rope access technician, such as:
a) after the technician has put on his or her harness and assembled their equipment;
b) after the technician has connected the anchor lines;
c) whenever the technician is performing rope access manoeuvres.
The rope access safety supervisor should perform a pre-use check at the start of every working day and at other appropriate times, such as when the anchor lines are moved during the day, to make sure that all the anchors and anchor lines (wire and textile), as well as the structure or natural feature to which they are attached, are in good working order.
Why mistakes with rope access are possible?
The rigging was not subjected to appropriate pre-use inspections prior to usage.
Even though they were present for the operations, the supervisors did not actively supervise the work being done.
No buddy checks were performed. It’s possible that a second pair of eyes saw the problems.
There was no secure way to store ropes to prevent unintentional use.
Perhaps as a result of fatigue or complacency, assumptions were made about the applicability and safety of the tools and procedures.
How to avoid incidence at heights when using ropes?
Before connecting and using, inspect the rigging and equipment.
The primary goal of a supervisor’s work should be to ensure the safety and safe operations of the people they are supervising.
Buddy checks are a simple and effective way to make sure that the rigging and equipment are safe to use. A safety supervisor is one of the minimal number of personnel that make up a rope access team. This contributes to ensuring everyone on the team is safe and follows safe procedures.
When a rope is disconnected, remove it from service and make sure it is not left in an unsafe place.
Before connecting to and utilizing your own ropes and gear, wherever it is practical, examine and confirm them.
