Professional Rope Access

Loui McCurley’s pioneering efforts in safe work at height include having helped found the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians, participating in the development of ISO 22846, and numerous other standards within ANSI Z359, ANSI 459, NFPA, ASTM, and more. Loui is committed to harmonizing regulatory requirements for work at height with practical, safe methods of work and verified technician skills. Her book Falls From Height: A Guide to Rescue (Wiley, 2012) was the first of its kind in fall protection. Loui is a passionate trainer and a frequent presenter at safety conferences including the American Society of Safety Engineers, National Association of Tower Erectors, VPPAC, and the International Technical Rescue Symposium.

• Notes on Contributors xiiiForeword xixYour Success xxiiiPreface xxvHow to use this book xxviiSection 1 | Planning for Rope Access 1Chapter 1 | What Is Rope Access? 31-1 Introduction 3Why Choose Rope Access? 41-2 Foundation and Evolution of Rope Access 6The Modern Rope Access System 6Skills Required for Modern Rope Access Workers 71-3 Rope Access Compared/Contrasted with Other Disciplines 8Rope Access Contrasted with Recreational Rappelling 8Rope Access Contrasted with Controlled Descent 9Rope Access Contrasted with Rope Descent Techniques 11Rope Access Contrasted with Bosun’s Chairs 11Rope Access Backup Contrasted with Other Backup Systems 14WhereModern Rope Access Has Landed – The Bus You Take to Work 141-4 Compatibility and Work Safety 15Fall Restraint 15Fall Arrest 15Fall Containment Systems 17Suspended Scaffolds 17Aerial Platforms and Man Baskets 171-5 Special Techniques 18Aid Climbing 18Lead Climbing 191-6 Practical Application of Rope Access 191-7 Summary 20Chapter 2 | Rope Access and the Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Plan 212-1 Protecting Workers at Height 212-2 Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection 22Policy Statement 22Staff Responsibilities 23Fall Hazard Survey 252-3 Hierarchy of Fall Protection 26Types of Active Protection – Harness-Based Solutions 27Choosing a System of Protection 282-4 Rope Access Work Plan 29System Requirements 30Safety in Rope Access Operations 31Work Practices 322-5 Summary 34Chapter 3 | Personnel Selection and Training 353-1 Introduction 353-2 Personnel Qualifications 35Aptitude for Rope Access 373-3 Team Organization and Competencies 38Technician Skills and Responsibilities 38Supervisor Skills and Responsibilities 39Program Manager Skills and Responsibilities 403-4 Training and Certification 40Training Records 41Training Outline 41Advanced Levels of Certification 45Rope Access Certification Bodies 463-5 Summary 47Chapter 4 | Equipment for Rigging 494-1 Equipment for Rigging Rope Access Systems 494-2 How to Choose Equipment for Rigging in Life Safety Situations 504-3 The Difference Between Personal Equipment and Rigging Equipment 524-4 Rigging Equipment for Fall Arrest 524-5 Rigging Equipment for Cranes Versus Rigging Used in Rope Access 534-6 Rigging Equipment for Suspended Scaffolds 544-7 Rigging Equipment for Rescue 544-8 Rope 554-9 Connectors 594-10 Hardware 634-11 Mechanical Anchorage Connectors 654-12 Anchor Slings 674-13 Summary 69Chapter 5 | Personal Equipment for Rope Access 715-1 Introduction 715-2 Essential Requirements 725-3 Harnesses 745-4 A Note About Comfort Seats (Seatboards) 765-5 Helmets 775-6 Lanyards 785-7 Connectors 795-8 Descending Devices 805-9 Rope Access Backup Devices 845-10 Ascenders 865-11 Gloves 885-12 Clothing and Personal Wear 895-13 OTHER PPE 895-14 Equipment Traceability and Recordkeeping 895-15 Summary 90Section 2 | Skills for the Rope Access Technician 91Chapter 6 | Rigging Concepts 936-1 Principles at Work in a System 94Gravity 94Friction 94Angles 96Vector Forces 996-2 Using the Principles 107Mechanical Advantage 107Load Ratios 111Safety Factors 1126-3 Summary 114Chapter 7 | Rope Terminations and Anchorages 1157-1 Rope and Knot Terminology 1167-2 Rope Terminations 1187-3 Manufactured Terminations 1187-4 Knots 119Stopper Knots 119End-of-Line Knots 120Midline Knots 124Knots (Bends) That Join Two Ropes 125Knot Safety 127Hitches 1287-5 Knots and Rope Strength 1327-6 Anchorages 132Classifications of Anchorages 133Anchorage System Performance 134Positioning the Anchorage System 135Back-Ties 136Direct Attachment 136Load Sharing Anchor Systems 138Angles in Anchor Systems 141Change of Direction 1427-7 Summary 143Chapter 8 | Rope Access Systems 1458-1 Compatibility 1498-2 Access System 1498-3 Backup System 1518-4 Attachment to Technician’s Harness 1528-5 Pull-through Systems 153Pull-Through with Ground Anchor 153Top Anchor Pull-Through with Knot 1538-6 Changing the Fall Line 155Directional Deviation 155Rebelay (Re-anchor) Systems 156Well-Being of the Technician 1578-7 Summary 159Chapter 9 | Descending 1619-1 Introduction 1619-2 Choosing a Descender 1629-3 Choosing a Rope for Descent 1649-4 Rigging for Descent 1659-5 Getting on Rope 1679-6 Managing the Descent 1689-7 Tending the Backup Device 1709-8 Passing a Knot 1709-9 Passing a Deviation Anchor 1739-10 Passing a Rebelay 1749-11 Landing 1779-12 Summary 178Chapter 10 | Ascending 17910-1 Selecting Ascenders 180Handled Ascenders 180Chest Ascender 18110-2 The Complete Ascending System 181Rigging the Chest Ascender 182Rigging the Handled Ascender 18410-3 Managing the Ascent 18410-4 Changeovers 186Changeover from Ascending System to Descending System 187Using a Descender for Ascent 187Rope-to-Rope Transfer 188Passing a Knot in the Ropes While on Ascent 189Negotiating an Edge or Obstruction While on Ascent 190Passing a Deviation 191Passing a Re-anchor (Rebelay) on Ascent 192Transitioning Off Rope from Ascent, Onto a Platform 19610-5 Summary 196Chapter 11 | Advanced Techniques 19711-1 Belays 19811-2 Aid Climbing 20111-3 Lead Climbing 20311-4 Climbing with Twin Lanyards 20611-5 Raising and Lowering Systems 20711-6 Systems for Lowering 20811-7 Systems for Raising 20911-8 Cross-haul 21111-9 Tensioned Ropes 21211-10 Multiple Simultaneous Systems 21411-11 Powered Assist Systems 21411-12 Summary 215Chapter 12 | Use of Powered Rope Access Devices 21712-1 Precautions 21712-2 Configuring the Device into the System 21912-3 Configuration 1 (Sit on Top) 22112-4 Configuration (Suspend Beneath) 22312-5 Using the Device from a Fixed Position 22412-6 Additional Considerations 22612-7 Care and Maintenance 22612-8 Summary 227Chapter 13 | Rescue 22913-1 Rope Access and Rescue 22913-2 The Rescue Preplan 23213-3 Self-Rescue 23313-4 Coworker-Assisted Rescue 23513-5 Noncommittal Rescue and Prerigging for Rescue 23613-6 Co-Worker Assisted Rescue from Descent 23813-7 Rescue from Ascent 24013-8 Challenging Rescues 24113-9 Standby Rescue 24213-10 Professional Versus Coworker-Assisted Rescue 24313-11 Conclusion 244Section 3 | Program Administration 245Chapter 14 | Developing a Rope Access Plan 24714-1 Working Safely at Heights 248Harness-Based Works 248Fall Arrest 250Work Positioning 250Rope Access 25114-2 Necessary Elements of a Rope Access Program 251Rescue 251One Rope or Two? 252Avoid the Fall 253Team Works 253Team Documentation 25414-3 Work in a System 254Supervisor 255SuitableManagement 255Summary 256Chapter 15 | Developing a Policy Statement 25715-1 Questions to Consider 25715-2 Putting it all Together 26215-3 Congratulations! 263Chapter 16 | Writing a Work Order 265Summary 268Chapter 17 | Establishing a Work Plan 26917-1 Summary 273Chapter 18 | Performing a Job Hazard Analysis 27518-1 The Process 27518-2 Content 27618-3 Using the JHA 27818-4 Summary 279Chapter 19 | Fall Hazard Survey/Assessment 28119-1 Conducting the Survey 28119-2 Survey Contents 28319-3 Using the Survey 28319-4 Fall Hazard Mitigation 28419-5 Summary 284Chapter 20 | Creating a Rescue Preplan 28720-1 Emergency Response Planning 28720-2 Fall Rescue Planning 28920-3 Coordination with External Resources 29320-4 Summary 293Chapter 21 | Training Records 29521-1 Certification Records 29521-2 Technician Records 29621-3 Employer Records 29721-4 Program Administrator Training 298Chapter 22 | Equipment Inspection and Care 30122-1 Specifying Equipment 30122-2 Placing Equipment into Service 30222-3 Equipment Inspection 30222-4 Cleaning 30322-5 Retirement 304Chapter 23 | Rope Access Program Audit 30723-1 Components of an Audit 30723-2 Management 30823-3 Practices 30923-4 Equipment Management 31123-5 Recordkeeping 31223-6 Summary 312Knowledge Check 313Glossary 339Index 343