Rope Access

ROPE ACCESS
Rope access techniques allow workers to operate safely and quickly in advanced situations involving work at heights. For rope access a working rope is used for movement (to be used for ascent and descent via descenders or ascenders) combined with a safety rope which, with the use of a fall arrest device, arrests any fall caused by failure of the working rope or by human error. Since the user is suspended for the majority of the time, a comfortable fall arrest harness must be used and it should be certified in accordance with EN 813 and EN 361 standards. For work carried out entirely in the air, the use of a rigid seat is suggested.

Fig.11 - Access from above is the simplest solution for reaching the work area, thereby avoiding ascent from below, which implies a significant waste of energy. In this case it may be sufficient to use a descender which allows only descent on the working rope. This must always be combined with a fall arrest device on the safety rope.

Fig.12 - If access from below is necessary using preinstalled ropes, or when there is a need to ascend sections of rope, the ascent is carried out using a chest ascender installed on a full body harness and a handled ascender which, combined with a foot loop, allows for quick progression with limited waste of energy. This must always be combined with a fall arrest device on the safety rope.

Fig.13 - If the user is suspended and needs to climb for short distances, the worker can use a descender which also allows climbing, combined with a handled ascender and a foot loop. This combination allows the user to go easily and immediately from the descent configuration to the ascent configuration and vice versa. This must always be combined with a fall arrest device on the safety rope.