Abseil Work

We have a specialist team of IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) trained operatives who deal with cleaning in hard to reach areas, or confined spaces. All our IRATA Technicians have certificates that can be provided on request. Their certificates are valid for 4 years and we ensure all our Technicians are compliant with the latest legislation and we that they are retested every 3 years.

Abseiling was initially used in caving and was developed for use on oil and gas rigs. As its value as a work solution grew rope access also developed where it is to be seen undertaking all manner of work from high-rise window and facade cleaning and general maintenance to repair and inspection work on many types of structures.

Some advantages of abseiling are as follows:

• A thorough service that usually removes the need for expensive access machinery
• Environmentally friendly
• Quiet with very little noise interruption
• No security risk on site with all equipment removed overnight
• Rapid set-up and dismantling, minimal disruption to building occupants, pedestrians and traffic flow.

The main features of rope access in operation are:

• the IRATA rope access worker works from two ropes - a working rope and a back-up, safety rope - and is permanently attached to both;
• each rope has a separate anchorage point;
• in the unlikely event of the working rope becoming damaged or unusable, the safety rope prevents a fall;
• to prevent accidental dropping all tools of a suitable weight are attached to the technician at all times. Heavier items are independently suspended;
• all teams are required to be self-sufficient in terms of rescue with one technician always being suitably qualified to supervise. A minimum of two technicians are required for any one job so that one can rescue the other if necessary. If two technicians might be required for a rescue then the minimum team number would be three;
• all IRATA technicians receive extensive training and independent assessment and are required to undergo re-training every three years;
• training includes rescue procedures even though IRATA has an unrivalled record of safe working
• all equipment is regularly inspected and well maintained;
• all IRATA training and operational work is conducted in line with Association Guidelines, wherever in the world it is conducted;
• these Guidelines have been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive.