The evolution of rope access into a mainstream access method recognised throughout the world has been led by certain UK companies including Vertical Access Ltd through their participation in the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association – IRATA International in the late 1980s.
These founding members who were prepared to commit to the development & delivery of rope access technician training to ensure that competence systems could be taught and independently assessed. They also set up the key component membership of the association that is not automatic but subject to stringent entry requirements assessed through independent quality and safety audits which are repeated at three yearly intervals.
The company has been closely involved with IRATA since becoming an Operator & Training member in 1990 with Paul Bingham holding key positions on the Executive, Health & Safety & Training Committees and who was recently awarded a long service medal.
Key aspects of the company that support these capabilities:-
- Working in accordance with the IRATA International Code of Practice for Industrial Rope Access ICOP
- All rope access technicians trained in accordance with the IRATA Training & Certification Scheme TACS which is structured with three levels and renewed every three years:-
- Level 3 Site Safety Supervisor
- Level 2 Lead Technician
- Level 1 Technician
- All Rope Access work is directly supervised by an IRATA Level 3 Site Safety Supervisor
- The company is audited every three years by IRATA Lead Auditors to the requirements set out in the ICOP & TACS documents. Non conformances can lead to the suspension or termination of membership.
- We employ a Rope Access Manager who has the responsibility for the safe delivery and continuous improvements of our rope access services
- We employ a Rope Access Technical Authority who reviews any changes to rope access methods and equipment
- We log all rope access hours using a data collection system and report all rope access hours & incidents to IRATA on a quarterly basis and more serious ones within seven days. All IRATA members are required to participate this system which allows the real time trending of H&S data by IRATA to identify specific Health & Safety issues that arise within the industry and the production of the Annual Work & Safety Analysis WASA.
- We attend the Annual IRATA Technical Event & Conference ITEC to share and discuss the latest in technical, safety & quality issues for the rope access industry along with and practical demonstrations of equipment & techniques.
