Frequently asked questions
 

1)      Isn’t it dangerous 

No, rope access is the safest form of access statistically with only one death in operational history and no deaths in the 16 years statistics have been gathered and produced. The industry is strictly controlled by IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) who have General Requirements and Guidelines that have been approved by the HSC. Belfor follow these documents to ensure all work at height is carried out in the safest manor possible.
Central government have also given this area of industry considerable attention over the last few years producing the Working At Height Regulations 2005. Belfor has in place operational procedures to achieve the requirements of this legislation.

2)      How will you access  the area

Rope Access is a combination of climbing and caving techniques that have been adopted and modified for the use in industrial situations. Depending on the construction of the area to be accessed the specially trained technicians will always be attached to the structure by at least two independent attachment points and will move around by a sequence of shifting body weight between the two, should an obstacle appear the technician will attach a third point of contact beyond the obstacle before removing one of the initial points. On vertical walls the technician will anchor their ropes to a substantial point of contact at the top and will abseil / ascend the ropes to access the area.

3)      How will you get down in an emergency

Evacuation routes will be identified in the method statement and will generally be a direct descent to the nearest walk way and then to follow the client approved exit routes. For more complicated scenarios an evacuation route will be agreed and installed prior to the commencement of work.

 

4)      How will you carry out a rescue

All rope access technicians are qualified to varying degrees of rescue capabilities with Level 1 technicians being able to carry out basic rescues and Level 3 technicians being able to produce rescue plans and carry out complicated rescues. IRATA’s approved methods of access and training dictates that rescues can be carried out with the equipment that is carried as basic kit / harness configuration in most situations.

5)      Is it expensive

No, due to the speed and effectiveness of the techniques involved in rope access there is a considerable saving in time and consequently cost / client interference, e.g.
Scaffolding may take a week to erect before work can start and a week to dismantle after the completion of work. If the work takes a week then the interference to the client is three weeks. Due to the response and installation speed of rope access the job could be carried out in one week resulting in a third of the interference to the client.

6)      Can we see Procedure, Risk Assessment and Insurance etc.

Before has produced a rope access documentation pack that will be made available / issued to the client including procedures, risk assessments, rescue plans and insurance cover verification.