Industrial rope access is a form of work positioning.

Initially developed from techniques used in caving and climbing.

Applied practical rope-work these skills allow workers to access difficult to reach locations. Industrial Rope Access first emerged during the 1980’s as an alternative to traditional access techniques. The benefits of rope access where favoured by oil and gas industry in the North Sea. As its value as a work solution grew rope access has developed onshore where it can now be seen undertaking all manner of work from high-rise window and facade cleaning, general maintenance and repair, inspection and geo-technical working at height.

Although there is a steady decline in the number of injuries caused by falls; falls from height remain the most common kind of workplace fatality. They are the biggest single cause of serious and fatal injuries arising from construction and maintenance activities. 

Safety when working at height is essential, and ensuring that our teams use access equipment properly is a key part of this.

HSE recognises that, within the variety of work at height methods available, rope access is an accepted technique to use in appropriate circumstances.

Our Height teams comprise of the rope access technicians participating in the rope access work, and any supporting personnel such as ground crew or centuries to prevent unauthorised access to the work area. Because of the locations and the specialised nature of the work, all our work teams are self-supportive when it comes to rescue and supervised for safety by an IRATA level 3 qualified in 1st aid. Our technicians are also trained in many different access techniques. Such as the safe use of ladders. MEWPs. Aluminium towers. Working in restraint. Climbing Towers or Structures using fall arrest equipment. All carried out with a rescue plan for emergencies.

Rope access can have minimal disruption to businesses. Allowing your company to continue as normal while essential work is carried out around you. Other methods of access for work at height, such as scaffolding, not only take time and expense to erect and dismantle, but can be unsightly and unattractive to the look of a building.

Scaffolding is bulky and can take up a lot of ground space, with a need to park large trucks at the work site. While it is being built from the ground, it can affect access to a building, making it difficult for clients or employees to enter / exit the building, or the company car park. Our rope access technicians work with a controlled exclusion area, causing less disruption to the building frontage or building entrances.

For most circumstances, rope access techniques are the most efficient way to complete tasks that would otherwise involve significant expense, time, or permit planning (for parking, road closure or permissions from local authority etc) When it comes to cost, rope access is comparatively more affordable than scaffolding.

Not only does rope access require less equipment, it is discrete in its execution. With rope access the security of your company remains intact, as all equipment is removed at the end of each working day, preventing any unwanted trespass.

Factors affecting costs are usually:

-How long you will need the MEWP for? (usually by the day or the week and in some cases the need to leave hired equipment at you premises may incure additional cost for the safety/security of the equipment. A MEWP will require a secure location when not in use)

-How far you need the hire firm to deliver your equipment (many MEWPs are delivererd by HGVs,will there be enough room on the site to deliver/collect a MEWP and to travel it to and from the work site? We have much smaller access/egress requirements.),

-The model you choose (generally more expensive the more reach/raise you need)

-Whether you have a self-operated model or need to hire an operator. Most of our technicians are licensed to operate MEWPs, however with rope access our labour and access costs are combined into one.

Other considerations:

-Are there any overhead power lines to be avoided?As MEWPs can require at least 15m (50ft) of clearance distance.

-Are there any below ground hazards to be avoided? As MEWPs need a solid level floor to operate. Our rope access teams will not cause any lasting damage to fragile surfaces, such as grass lawns. Our rope access equipment is carried to and from the work site each day by the team.

-When ordering a MEWP knowing what height and outreach are needed will change the size required and larger machines consume more fuel. Our rope access teams are not restricted in either way. Should the MEWP be expected to move while in the

elevated position will there be enough space to complete the manoeuvre? Our rope access teams have a range of varied techniques to allow them to traverse as needed.

-When operating a MEWP inside, the main issue will be ventilation. An electric machine will probably be preferable to a diesel powered one, as it will not give off the same fumes but may produce other fumes when charging the batteries.

Our rope access technicians can operate quietly, without producing harmful emissions into the environment.

[Environmental policy]