I recently had the opportunity to spend a day with
JCA Cleaning in Norwich who are a window cleaning company that specialize in Rope Access Work (Abseiling)
I myself am planning to do the training and become a Rope Access Technician (RAT) later this year, and I'm very grateful to Jonathan Adams and his team for allowing me to spend the time with them.
Everyone at JCA is IRATA qualified, and when necessary they hire in an IRATA supervisor.
Here is a picture of Jonathan (middle) and his team.(Jamie on left and Matt on right)
One thing I often wondered about was how the ropes are anchored at the top of the building. It turns out they use special mobile anchorages called "A-Frames"
These can be dismantled and carried upstairs or in a lift. They have to be tested and certified before use, you might just be able to see the certification labels at the eyebolts. (Looking at these pictures, I wonder if this is where the logo of The British Window Cleaning Academy comes from)
They are moved along the parapet of the building as the job progresses. You can see the stack of 25kg weights at the bottom end. These will not only counter the weight of the worker, but are sufficient to counter any shock forces developed during a fall.
As well as these "A-Frames" there are other ways to anchor. If certified eyebolts are installed, these can be used. However, if there is no roof access (perhaps because of a sloping roof) or no parapet, an anchor can be placed inside the building and the RAT gains access through the window. A "trolleyweight" is used for this:
[This one is an "OTT" trolleyweight. OTT (now called
Ionic Systems) stopped supplying anchorage some years ago, but it can still be bought second hand. One of the "A" frames is also an OTT anchorage]
Here you can see the team working. The "A-Frames" have a hydraulic shock absorber so that when the Technician puts his or her weight on the rope, there is a little "bounce" before it tensions. This is also useful in absorbing shock forces.
Rope Access requires specialized training, certified equipment, and without doubt a good head for heights.
Teamworking is also very important, as is a professional attitude towards regulatory issues such as Health & Safety and PUWER.
Rope access is very tightly regulated in the UK, coming under both the
Work At Height Regulations but also
Lifting Operations And Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) There is also a British Standard for rope access techniques.
However, the safety statistics for IRATA qualified rope access technicians are impressive, and IRATA require refresher training and assessment every three years in order to retain certification.
Many thanks to Jonathan and his team for letting us have the benefit of their experience.
-Philip
http://www.jcacleaning.co.ukhttp://www.irata.org