Rope Access – Level 1,2 & 3

 

Rope AccessPurpose

In today’s work culture of efficiency and cost cutting, working at height requires a new approach than to traditional scaffolding. This is where Rope Access steps in giving reliability and safety in working at height at minimal cost.

 

Target Audience

  • Civil, structural, and geo-technical engineers
  • Operations and maintenance workers
  • Construction workers and painters
  • High-rise window cleaners
  • Motion picture and theatrical set personnel
  • Tower and antenna installers
  • Physical Fitness Guidelines

General Guidelines

  • Minimum age requirement for certification is 18 years
  • Good strength-to-weight ratio and average to good cardio fitness level
  • Healthy joints and full-function of extremities (especially hands)
  • Recommended maximum body weight of 220 lbs for people up to 6 ft tall. Due to equipment limitations, body weight maximum is 285 lbs.
  • Will be required to perform moderate to strenuous activities for five consecutive eight hour days
  • Each participant must assume all responsibility for monitoring their own physical limitations
  • Individuals should abstain from activities that may threaten their health
  • Candidates will be expected to keep up with an established course schedule and group pace
  • A physical examination by a doctor is recommended

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE TEST
Candidates wishing to register for rope access training should be able to complete the following tasks in order to successfully attend a training:

  • One chin-up (or pull-up); with chin held above the bar.
  • Twenty sit-ups with hands behind head in a two minute period (shoulder blades touching the ground each time)
  • Twenty stair steps onto a 16”-18” platform in a two minute period without using hands/arms (Harvard Step Test)

REJECTION CRITERIA

  • Heart disease or hypertension
  • Epilepsy, seizures, or blackouts
  • Dizziness or impaired balance
  • Severe allergic reaction to insect bites (anaphylactic shock)
  • Brittle or uncontrolled diabetes
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease (poor blood circulation to extremities)
  • Severe hearing loss
  • Psychiatric Illness
  • Extreme sun sensitivity
  • Severe tendonitis or arthritis
  • Obesity

Participants will be asked to perform moderate to strenuous activities. A physical examination by a doctor is strongly recommended. Candidates will be required to sign a Liability Release Form and a Statement of Medical Condition confirming the absence of known medical conditions that might preclude their ability to safely work at height.

Additional Notes: For those taking a training course for the first time, please note: arm, elbow and shoulder strains are relatively common for course participants not familiar with working on rope. A short warm up, or stretching routine, before the day of training can help minimize the potential for muscle strains and other injuries.

Course Content

Rope Access Level – I

A successful candidate should be capable of performing a range of rope access tasks under the direct supervision of a more experienced technician.

Learning Objectives 

  • Understand and follow procedures, work plans, and associated risk assessments
  • Perform pre-use checks of personal access equipment
  • Perform a variety of rope maneuvers
  • Assist in rigging and other tasks, under the supervision of a more experienced technician
  • Assist with rescue operations

Job-site Safety and Documentation

  • Awareness of guidelines for Rope work and relevant legislation
  • Identify the elements of an access work plan or method statement
  • Understand the process for hazard identification, analysis, and mitigation
  • Identify exclusion zones
  • Awareness of how to document Rope Access experience

Rigging 

  • Understand basic rigging skills
  • Inspect the integrity of rope anchor systems
  • Able to tie anchoring, stop, and joining knots

Rope Access Techniques 

  • Ascent / Descent and changeovers
  • Pass obstructions: knots, deviations, intermediate anchors (re-belay), and edge obstructions
  • Rope to rope transfers
  • Aid climbing: horizontal point to point and sliding
  • Structure climbing: climbing with fall arrest equipment

Rescue

  • Understand rescue protocols
  • Rescue a casualty in descent
  • Operate a rig-to-rescue system
  • Awareness of hauling systems

Rope Access Level – II

This course focuses on more complex tasks required of an experienced technician working under the supervision of a Level III technician.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand and follow access procedures, work plans, and associated risk assessments
  • Inspect personal access equipment
  • Perform a variety of rope maneuvers
  • Capable of more complex rigging and rescue techniques

Job-site Safety and Documentation

  • Understand guidelines for Rope Access work and relevant legislation
  • Understand the process to develop an access work plan or method statement
  • Able to identify and mitigate hazards
  • Establish exclusion zones
  • Document Rope Access work using experience logbooks

Rigging

  • Capable of more complex rigging, including re-belays, deviations, and pull-through anchors
  • Capable of rigging rig-to-rescue systems and tensioned lines (IRATA Level II only)
  • Capable of inspecting the safety of rope access systems
  • Able to tie a variety of knots and hitches

Rope Access Techniques and Rescues

  • All rope access techniques to include aid climbing and structure climbing
  • Rescue a casualty in descent and ascent
  • Rescue a casualty through a variety of rigging scenarios (IRATA Level II only)
  • Use hauling and lowering systems for a rescue
  • Assist with complex rescue scenarios

Rope Access Level – III

This course focuses on advanced tasks and job management skills required of a technician working as a rope access supervisor.

Learning Objectives

  • Develop and implement work plans and associated risk assessments
  • Supervise the proper use and management of rope access equipment
  • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of advanced rigging and rescue techniques

Job-site Safety and Documentation

  • Able to ensure compliance with relevant Rope Access guidelines and legislation
  • Supervise and direct the Rope Access tasks of other technicians
  • Develop access work plans or method statements
  • Complete, implement, and review job hazard analysis or risk assessments
  • Establish and manage exclusion zones
  • Verify Rope Access experience in technicians logbooks

Rigging

  • Capable of constructing or directing construction of Rope Access systems to include tensioned lines
  • Capable of inspecting safety and analyzing resultant forces of Rope Access systems
  • Develop and implement an access plan for a specific Rope Access task

Rope Access Techniques and Rescues

  • All rope access techniques to include aid climbing and structure climbing
  • Rescue a casualty through all Rope Access rigging scenarios
  • Plan, conduct and manage complex rescue scenarios
Course Stages Fee INREligibilityDuration
Course Timing
Date CommenceRemarks
Rope Access Level -140,000Anyone >18 yrs5 days, 10:00-18:00On DemandRINA Approved
Rope Access Level - 240,0001000 hrs exp +1 year after Level -15 days, 10:00-18:00On DemandRINA Approved
Rope Access Level - 3
40,0001000 hrs exp +1 year after Level - 2
5 days, 10:00-18:00

On Demand
RINA Approved