Rope Access is the use of ropes to access a work area or difficult to get to place or position. Generally ropes are used when no other suitable alternative such as a scaffold tower or MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) can be used. This might be because the ground is too uneven or the structure unable to support the weight of a mobile platform. It could be a remote location where you simply can’t get such a platform or vehicle. Perhaps the only access you have is from the roof of a building or the top of a cliff. In these case we will install ropes and then abseil down or climb up to where we need to be.
Rope Access might also be used inside a venue where there isn’t sufficient space for a scaffold tower or mobile platform or perhaps where a technician needs to be in a certain place during a performance.
As well as using ropes our specialists are also trained to safely climb and work from structures such as lighting or circus trusses. We won’t always use ropes, especially if other safe alternatives are available. The key thing is we specialise in working at height in situations where specialist skills and knowledge are needed to remain safe. You only need to be a very short distance from the ground to have a fall that can lead to death or injury. Ladders are often particularly precarious and ropes installed by a fully qualified and experienced rope access technician may be a safer alternative.
At the core of professional rope access is safety. When done properly rope access is safe. We use a dual rope system with independent primary and backup ropes and systems. Wherever possible this includes an automatic fall arrest device. If we are not using ropes we will always have a minimum of 2 points of secure contact with the structure we are climbing. Every item of equipment is inspect and maintained to extremely high standards. Anything safety critical is subject to regulated safety certification, manufacturing traceability and will be subject to detailed 6 monthly inspections.
Whenever we provide rope access people, every member of the team will have basic rescue training, so should something go wrong our people can rescue each other. Each team is led by a highly experienced level 3 technician with a minimum of 2000 hours experience and of capable of advanced and complex rescues.
Our industrial rope access activities are performed following best industry practice which typically means following the IRATA ICOP (International code of practice). For more information about IRATA please click here.
Rope Access Technicians, Working At Height and Rigging specialists for Film, Television, Events, Theatre and Circus.