7 Reasons Rope Access Companies Can Safely Perform Dangerous Work
Rope access companies operate safely because they follow strict rules and procedures. These seven reasons lay out how rope access companies perform seemingly dangerous tasks with little risk.
At first sight, it may seem that experts for rope access companies put themselves in the path of danger each day. But these professionally trained and very proficient employees have a surprisingly powerful record of safety because they follow industry-standard safety and job performance processes.
Rope access is actually a variety of work positioning that uses methods developed for caving and climbing to perform inspections, surveying, construction, maintenance, mend and other services in difficult-to-reach locations. This process saves companies thousands in downtime because employees can reach difficult locations swiftly and effectively, without scaffolding or platforms. It also makes reaching otherwise not possible locations possible.
But some worry about turning to rope access companies because the process seems threatening. In fact , however , technicians could not be more secure.
Here are seven reasons work access companies can perform seemingly dangerous tasks with very little risk:
1. All technicians work in pairs.
There are always at least 2 rope access technicians working on a project, and each is really capable of rescuing the other in the eventuality of an accident. Usually, there are rather more than 2 people present during work, but rope access companies never let staff work alone. That’s just asking for trouble.
2. Every technician is well trained and individually assessed.
Companies don’t leave anything to risk, so each rope access employee is thoroughly trained, then evaluated by another party to make sure he or she can accomplish the job. Each effort is made to ensure that each employee is as good as the next.
3. Equipment is checked and repaired frequently.
Equipment is strong and has built-in failsafe mechanisms, but staff are trained to inspect and reinspect gear often both at the shop and on the jobsite to make sure everything is in perfect working order. Damaged gear is never used.
4. There are always two points of rope attachment.
Every rope has at least 2 points of attachment with independent anchor points, making it almost impossible for a rope to come loose and lead to a employee to fall. If the rope is secure, so are the technicians.
5. There's always a failsafe descent mechanism.
If a technician descends a rope faster than anticipated, that can lead to fatal injury. That’s why decent is controlled, and there’s always a failsafe descent mechanism that makes sure the drop into a confined space or down the side of a structure occurs at the safest possible speed.
6. Tools are secured with secondary ropes.
When tools and gear like drills, tubes of sealant or testers are used at a rope access job site, each item is secured with a rope, lanyard or other device to keep it from falling. That restrictions the danger to those that must be below the postponed employees, forestalling head wounds and other catastrophic implications of dropped tools.
7. Industry affiliations carefully outline working systems and practices.
The International Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), made of a companies in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and other locations around the world, defines work procedures and standard practices to which member companies are anticipated to adhere. Smart users of rope access corporations confirm they only use the services of trade organisation members.
As the rules are strict, the procedures are certain and the experts are highly trained, rope access companies can supply their services with minimal risk. That implies there is no reason for anyone to worry.
Driaan Louw, co-owner of a top rope access company in Cape Town , writes about fall arrest training techniques and alternative ways to keep rope access technicians healthy because he knows how threatening their roles can be. He also knows that they do not have to take unacceptable risks when they’re correctly trained in equipment usage and safety routines.
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