Professional Rope Access – A Guide To Working Safety at Height

<p>Notes on Contributors xiii</p>
<p>Foreword xix</p>
<p>Your Success xxiii</p>
<p>Preface xxv</p>
<p>How to use this book xxvii</p>
<p>Section 1 | Planning for Rope Access 1</p>
<p>Chapter 1 | What Is Rope Access? 3</p>
<p>1–1 Introduction 3</p>
<p>Why Choose Rope Access? 4</p>
<p>1–2 Foundation and Evolution of Rope Access 6</p>
<p>The Modern Rope Access System 6</p>
<p>Skills Required for Modern Rope Access Workers 7</p>
<p>1–3 Rope Access Compared/Contrasted with Other Disciplines 8</p>
<p>Rope Access Contrasted with Recreational Rappelling 8</p>
<p>Rope Access Contrasted with Controlled Descent 9</p>
<p>Rope Access Contrasted with Rope Descent Techniques 11</p>
<p>Rope Access Contrasted with Bosun s Chairs 11</p>
<p>Rope Access Backup Contrasted with Other Backup Systems 14</p>
<p>WhereModern Rope Access Has Landed The Bus You Take to Work 14</p>
<p>1–4 Compatibility and Work Safety 15</p>
<p>Fall Restraint 15</p>
<p>Fall Arrest 15</p>
<p>Fall Containment Systems 17</p>
<p>Suspended Scaffolds 17</p>
<p>Aerial Platforms and Man Baskets 17</p>
<p>1–5 Special Techniques 18</p>
<p>Aid Climbing 18</p>
<p>Lead Climbing 19</p>
<p>1–6 Practical Application of Rope Access 19</p>
<p>1–7 Summary 20</p>
<p>Chapter 2 | Rope Access and the Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Plan 21</p>
<p>2–1 Protecting Workers at Height 21</p>
<p>2–2 Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection 22</p>
<p>Policy Statement 22</p>
<p>Staff Responsibilities 23</p>
<p>Fall Hazard Survey 25</p>
<p>2–3 Hierarchy of Fall Protection 26</p>
<p>Types of Active Protection Harness–Based Solutions 27</p>
<p>Choosing a System of Protection 28</p>
<p>2–4 Rope Access Work Plan 29</p>
<p>System Requirements 30</p>
<p>Safety in Rope Access Operations 31</p>
<p>Work Practices 32</p>
<p>2–5 Summary 34</p>
<p>Chapter 3 | Personnel Selection and Training 35</p>
<p>3–1 Introduction 35</p>
<p>3–2 Personnel Qualifications 35</p>
<p>Aptitude for Rope Access 37</p>
<p>3–3 Team Organization and Competencies 38</p>
<p>Technician Skills and Responsibilities 38</p>
<p>Supervisor Skills and Responsibilities 39</p>
<p>Program Manager Skills and Responsibilities 40</p>
<p>3–4 Training and Certification 40</p>
<p>Training Records 41</p>
<p>Training Outline 41</p>
<p>Advanced Levels of Certification 45</p>
<p>Rope Access Certification Bodies 46</p>
<p>3–5 Summary 47</p>
<p>Chapter 4 | Equipment for Rigging 49</p>
<p>4–1 Equipment for Rigging Rope Access Systems 49</p>
<p>4–2 How to Choose Equipment for Rigging in Life Safety Situations 50</p>
<p>4–3 The Difference Between Personal Equipment and Rigging Equipment 52</p>
<p>4–4 Rigging Equipment for Fall Arrest 52</p>
<p>4–5 Rigging Equipment for Cranes Versus Rigging Used in Rope Access 53</p>
<p>4–6 Rigging Equipment for Suspended Scaffolds 54</p>
<p>4–7 Rigging Equipment for Rescue 54</p>
<p>4–8 Rope 55</p>
<p>4–9 Connectors 59</p>
<p>4–10 Hardware 63</p>
<p>4–11 Mechanical Anchorage Connectors 65</p>
<p>4–12 Anchor Slings 67</p>
<p>4–13 Summary 69</p>
<p>Chapter 5 | Personal Equipment for Rope Access 71</p>
<p>5–1 Introduction 71</p>
<p>5–2 Essential Requirements 72</p>
<p>5–3 Harnesses 74</p>
<p>5–4 A Note About Comfort Seats (Seatboards) 76</p>
<p>5–5 Helmets 77</p>
<p>5–6 Lanyards 78</p>
<p>5–7 Connectors 79</p>
<p>5–8 Descending Devices 80</p>
<p>5–9 Rope Access Backup Devices 84</p>
<p>5–10 Ascenders 86</p>
<p>5–11 Gloves 88</p>
<p>5–12 Clothing and Personal Wear 89</p>
<p>5–13 OTHER PPE 89</p>
<p>5–14 Equipment Traceability and Recordkeeping 89</p>
<p>5–15 Summary 90</p>
<p>Section 2 | Skills for the Rope Access Technician 91</p>
<p>Chapter 6 | Rigging Concepts 93</p>
<p>6–1 Principles at Work in a System 94</p>
<p>Gravity 94</p>
<p>Friction 94</p>
<p>Angles 96</p>
<p>Vector Forces 99</p>
<p>6–2 Using the Principles 107</p>
<p>Mechanical Advantage 107</p>
<p>Load Ratios 111</p>
<p>Safety Factors 112</p>
<p>6–3 Summary 114</p>
<p>Chapter 7 | Rope Terminations and Anchorages 115</p>
<p>7–1 Rope and Knot Terminology 116</p>
<p>7–2 Rope Terminations 118</p>
<p>7–3 Manufactured Terminations 118</p>
<p>7–4 Knots 119</p>
<p>Stopper Knots 119</p>
<p>End–of–Line Knots 120</p>
<p>Midline Knots 124</p>
<p>Knots (Bends) That Join Two Ropes 125</p>
<p>Knot Safety 127</p>
<p>Hitches 128</p>
<p>7–5 Knots and Rope Strength 132</p>
<p>7–6 Anchorages 132</p>
<p>Classifications of Anchorages 133</p>
<p>Anchorage System Performance 134</p>
<p>Positioning the Anchorage System 135</p>
<p>Back–Ties 136</p>
<p>Direct Attachment 136</p>
<p>Load Sharing Anchor Systems 138</p>
<p>Angles in Anchor Systems 141</p>
<p>Change of Direction 142</p>
<p>7–7 Summary 143</p>
<p>Chapter 8 | Rope Access Systems 145</p>
<p>8–1 Compatibility 149</p>
<p>8–2 Access System 149</p>
<p>8–3 Backup System 151</p>
<p>8–4 Attachment to Technician s Harness 152</p>
<p>8–5 Pull–through Systems 153</p>
<p>Pull–Through with Ground Anchor 153</p>
<p>Top Anchor Pull–Through with Knot 153</p>
<p>8–6 Changing the Fall Line 155</p>
<p>Directional Deviation 155</p>
<p>Rebelay (Re–anchor) Systems 156</p>
<p>Well–Being of the Technician 157</p>
<p>8–7 Summary 159</p>
<p>Chapter 9 | Descending 161</p>
<p>9–1 Introduction 161</p>
<p>9–2 Choosing a Descender 162</p>
<p>9–3 Choosing a Rope for Descent 164</p>
<p>9–4 Rigging for Descent 165</p>
<p>9–5 Getting on Rope 167</p>
<p>9–6 Managing the Descent 168</p>
<p>9–7 Tending the Backup Device 170</p>
<p>9–8 Passing a Knot 170</p>
<p>9–9 Passing a Deviation Anchor 173</p>
<p>9–10 Passing a Rebelay 174</p>
<p>9–11 Landing 177</p>
<p>9–12 Summary 178</p>
<p>Chapter 10 | Ascending 179</p>
<p>10–1 Selecting Ascenders 180</p>
<p>Handled Ascenders 180</p>
<p>Chest Ascender 181</p>
<p>10–2 The Complete Ascending System 181</p>
<p>Rigging the Chest Ascender 182</p>
<p>Rigging the Handled Ascender 184</p>
<p>10–3 Managing the Ascent 184</p>
<p>10–4 Changeovers 186</p>
<p>Changeover from Ascending System to Descending System 187</p>
<p>Using a Descender for Ascent 187</p>
<p>Rope–to–Rope Transfer 188</p>
<p>Passing a Knot in the Ropes While on Ascent 189</p>
<p>Negotiating an Edge or Obstruction While on Ascent 190</p>
<p>Passing a Deviation 191</p>
<p>Passing a Re–anchor (Rebelay) on Ascent 192</p>
<p>Transitioning Off Rope from Ascent, Onto a Platform 196</p>
<p>10–5 Summary 196</p>
<p>Chapter 11 | Advanced Techniques 197</p>
<p>11–1 Belays 198</p>
<p>11–2 Aid Climbing 201</p>
<p>11–3 Lead Climbing 203</p>
<p>11–4 Climbing with Twin Lanyards 206</p>
<p>11–5 Raising and Lowering Systems 207</p>
<p>11–6 Systems for Lowering 208</p>
<p>11–7 Systems for Raising 209</p>
<p>11–8 Cross–haul 211</p>
<p>11–9 Tensioned Ropes 212</p>
<p>11–10 Multiple Simultaneous Systems 214</p>
<p>11–11 Powered Assist Systems 214</p>
<p>11–12 Summary 215</p>
<p>Chapter 12 | Use of Powered Rope Access Devices 217</p>
<p>12–1 Precautions 217</p>
<p>12–2 Configuring the Device into the System 219</p>
<p>12–3 Configuration 1 (Sit on Top) 221</p>
<p>12–4 Configuration (Suspend Beneath) 223</p>
<p>12–5 Using the Device from a Fixed Position 224</p>
<p>12–6 Additional Considerations 226</p>
<p>12–7 Care and Maintenance 226</p>
<p>12–8 Summary 227</p>
<p>Chapter 13 | Rescue 229</p>
<p>13–1 Rope Access and Rescue 229</p>
<p>13–2 The Rescue Preplan 232</p>
<p>13–3 Self–Rescue 233</p>
<p>13–4 Coworker–Assisted Rescue 235</p>
<p>13–5 Noncommittal Rescue and Prerigging for Rescue 236</p>
<p>13–6 Co–Worker Assisted Rescue from Descent 238</p>
<p>13–7 Rescue from Ascent 240</p>
<p>13–8 Challenging Rescues 241</p>
<p>13–9 Standby Rescue 242</p>
<p>13–10 Professional Versus Coworker–Assisted Rescue 243</p>
<p>13–11 Conclusion 244</p>
<p>Section 3 | Program Administration 245</p>
<p>Chapter 14 | Developing a Rope Access Plan 247</p>
<p>14–1 Working Safely at Heights 248</p>
<p>Harness–Based Works 248</p>
<p>Fall Arrest 250</p>
<p>Work Positioning 250</p>
<p>Rope Access 251</p>
<p>14–2 Necessary Elements of a Rope Access Program 251</p>
<p>Rescue 251</p>
<p>One Rope or Two? 252</p>
<p>Avoid the Fall 253</p>
<p>Team Works 253</p>
<p>Team Documentation 254</p>
<p>14–3 Work in a System 254</p>
<p>Supervisor 255</p>
<p>SuitableManagement 255</p>
<p>Summary 256</p>
<p>Chapter 15 | Developing a Policy Statement 257</p>
<p>15–1 Questions to Consider 257</p>
<p>15–2 Putting it all Together 262</p>
<p>15–3 Congratulations! 263</p>
<p>Chapter 16 | Writing a Work Order 265</p>
<p>Summary 268</p>
<p>Chapter 17 | Establishing a Work Plan 269</p>
<p>17–1 Summary 273</p>
<p>Chapter 18 | Performing a Job Hazard Analysis 275</p>
<p>18–1 The Process 275</p>
<p>18–2 Content 276</p>
<p>18–3 Using the JHA 278</p>
<p>18–4 Summary 279</p>
<p>Chapter 19 | Fall Hazard Survey/Assessment 281</p>
<p>19–1 Conducting the Survey 281</p>
<p>19–2 Survey Contents 283</p>
<p>19–3 Using the Survey 283</p>
<p>19–4 Fall Hazard Mitigation 284</p>
<p>19–5 Summary 284</p>
<p>Chapter 20 | Creating a Rescue Preplan 287</p>
<p>20–1 Emergency Response Planning 287</p>
<p>20–2 Fall Rescue Planning 289</p>
<p>20–3 Coordination with External Resources 293</p>
<p>20–4 Summary 293</p>
<p>Chapter 21 | Training Records 295</p>
<p>21–1 Certification Records 295</p>
<p>21–2 Technician Records 296</p>
<p>21–3 Employer Records 297</p>
<p>21–4 Program Administrator Training 298</p>
<p>Chapter 22 | Equipment Inspection and Care 301</p>
<p>22–1 Specifying Equipment 301</p>
<p>22–2 Placing Equipment into Service 302</p>
<p>22–3 Equipment Inspection 302</p>
<p>22–4 Cleaning 303</p>
<p>22–5 Retirement 304</p>
<p>Chapter 23 | Rope Access Program Audit 307</p>
<p>23–1 Components of an Audit 307</p>
<p>23–2 Management 308</p>
<p>23–3 Practices 309</p>
<p>23–4 Equipment Management 311</p>
<p>23–5 Recordkeeping 312</p>
<p>23–6 Summary 312</p>
<p>Knowledge Check 313</p>
<p>Glossary 339</p>
<p>Index 343</p>