Rope Access Tips, Tricks & Chats

Is the standard of technicians dropping? Do we need technicians to get more hours between levels? Is it more experience that's needed or more hours on ropes? Sound we get more training for each level? We ask these and more questions this week.

Do we need an IRATA  level 4? I think i first heard this discussed when i was a level 1, but it comes up more often in conversation theses days. What would you like to see on a level 4 course, We have a look at a few options. 

This week we turn the normal level 3 rescue, passing a set of knots on its head. Why don't we get level 3's to lower a casualty and have to to bypass knots? We look at situations where you may need this skill in the field, and options for how it is done. Let us know if you would like this rescue added to the level 3 syllabus.

This week we discuss the single deviation rescue, This is a level 2 skill, we ask why do we get level 2's to do this rescue?  Could you just unclip the deviation? shouldn't we have level 2's rescue past a double deviation? Let us know what your thoughts are on the single deviation.

This week we take a look at breaking into a tight line, Why this was taken out of the IRATA level 3, Is it a good skill to know and should it come back. Let us know what you think about the technique and if it should make a comeback.

We have been asked to share our knowledge on how to look after our ropes to make them last longer and keep us safe. Various manufacturers give different advice and we try and work through this and give you some points to follow.

This week we chat with Tane from Caines Rope Access, We cover working in the tropics, going from employee to owner in 3 months and how you can travel the World on an IRATA ticket.

This wee we look at all the myths we have heard about what you can do if your IRATA ticket expires. We then look at each level and see what you need to do to upgrade or revalidate. This is a good one to share with your mates to ensure they stay current and save some money.

This week we chat with Mac Northeast the inventor of the Mac Pro and the Ladder Safe Leash. We chat about how these products came about, one from an accident Mac witnessed, the testing process and the evolution of the products. If you are keen to get your hands on them check out. www.mac-pro.com.au and Ladder Safe Leash on Face book.

This week we take a look at how we can work out the angles in our rigging. We look at using our hands to help us work this out, and the use of  some technology to make life easier?

This week we sit down with Dave Stafford and chat about a 20 plus year career in rope access. Do you need a trade or can you work as a level 3 and make that your trade, keeping people safe on the ropes and solving the access problem.

Carrying on from our other episode on the rule of 60, we talk about how the number 60 can help you work out the rough load on a deviation anchor. How much force are you putting on that anchor?  Here is a quick way to work it out.

This week we sit down with Ali Rugg, to talk about the reality of working away in rope access, it could be on regular swings , shut down work or just stand alone projects. How do you deal with it and how it affects family. Ali and I have known each other for nearly 3 decades, so a little trip down memory lane was inevitable.

We have been asked if we can tell the story of the Petal shunt. How did it become the rope access back up of choose? Can we still use it? Is it illegal to use it on site? hope this answers some of the questions you may have.

This week we sit down with Mike MacDonald. He started his career being sponsored by the UK Government to undertake IRATA training. This followed a 20 plus year career offshore finding his area of expertise in Special surveys. A great chat with some cool tips for techs from all over the World.

This week we look at the European standards for the helmets we use. what is the difference between the standards and which one should we use. would the standard change which helmet you use? or is fit more important?

This week we have another chat, This time with Keeron Le Busque. Keeron turned a change in career into a 20 plus year life style choose. From cleaning glass in the city to building Oil facilities in the ocean, this is a good one, with lots of advice for anyone getting into or working in our rope access World.

This week we try something a bit different. I hope this one works. We sit down and explain the rule of 60, a great way to work out forces on anchors when in the field. Please let us know how we did, if it worked for you. Stay safe.

This week we try and explain the updates in the IRATA TACS. We chat about how the assessment day needs to run and what are your options if it goes wrong and in what circumstances you can have another assessment on the same day.

This week we look at 5 things you should know about tension lines. How we should set them up. What you should look for. The basic do's and don'ts. let us know how you like to set up tension line, drop us a line on facebook, rope access tips tricks and chats. stay safe, see ya soon, cheers.

This week we sit down with Willie Johnstone and chat about rope access through the 80's, 90's to today. Willie is an Auditor, Assessor and consultant for companies. These chats are so real even his grandfather clock gets to chime in. The question is why didn't Willie want to jump in the Delorean to go back to where it started? Great chat with another Legend of rope access. 

This week we chat about pulley systems. How do you work out mechanical advantage? what's a compound system? We start with the basics of how to work out mechanical advantage, and what makes a compound system. Hope this sheds some light on what can be a confusing situation.

This week we sit down with Richie Spence. Richie has gone from a Level 2 who didn't want to take the responsibility of being a Level 3 all the way through to Technical Authority to Evaluator, and IRATA Auditor. A great chat about how rope access can take you to places you didn't imagine, if you are willing to put in the work and take opportunities presented to you.

This week we have a look at the EN 12841 standard for rope access, try and explain how it works and what's covered in it. Don't worry I'm just a rope tech talking about a standard, i'll keep it a simple as possible.

How a chance meeting on the streets of Melbourne can take you to the Red sand of Western Australia and back to the mountains of Canada.  Once again a unique story of life in rope access.