ROPE ACCESS CHAMBER
The Rope Access Chamber of the IWH Professional Body represents the practitioners involved in working at height by using ropes and associated equipment as the primary means of positioning and fall protection. It could also be described as “industrial abseiling”.
With the correct training, rigging of ropes and supervision, a Rope Access employees can perform vertical, horizontal, diagonal and more complex manoeuvres in three dimensional space, that allows them to scale tall structures and move around obstacles to get into an appropriate position where a required work task may then be performed. Rope access relies on a double rope system for safety, into which the technician is connected with a harness. The first rope is mainly used for positioning, and the second rope for fall protection, in the sense that it arrests a fall if any unforeseen compromising event occurs on the positioning ropes, causing the technician to fall. This fall arrest component of the rope access method is related to fall arrest requirements described in the construction regulations, specifically Construction regulations 8 that deal with legal requirements for fall protection planning.
The IWH Professional Body recognises the following high-risk skills programmes within the ROPE ACCESS industry, and are therefore designate the competent and experienced persons accordingly:
There are 3 levels of registration for ROPE ACCESS:
CERTIFIED WORK AT HEIGHT TECHNICIAN specializing as a:
1.1
ROPE ACCESS
TECHNICIAN (Lev1)
A registered Rope Access Technician is a professional that operates under direct supervision, in an array of work scenarios, where work locations at height need to be accessed in such a way that requires complete suspension from ropes or associated equipment. The Rope Access Technician is the most basic rope access designation and requires continuous direct supervision by advanced rope access designated persons, particularly the rope access supervisor.
Criteria for Obtaining Recognition
To be recognised with the IWH Prof Body as a ROPE ACCESS TECHNICIAN the professional must be competent in the following unit standards:
Academic Component
Must have completed the following:
- Unit Standard 229998: Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height (Lev 1; 2 cred)
- Unit Standard 230000: Perform a limited range of rope access tasks and rescues (lev 2; 6 cred))
- Must also have completed the IWH PB Board-Assessment
(If the person has not completed this training programme but have proof of experience, the person can also complete the IWH PB’s RPL assessment, and if found competent, the person will be licensed accordingly).
(Training and assessment must be conducted by a SETA ETQA/QCTO accredited and IWH Professional Body recognised training provider)
Other criteria
- Must be in possession of a current, valid medical certificate.
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Must renew his/her license every three years to proof that he/she is still able to perform the work competently and safely
Criteria for re-licensing
- Must still be medically fit for the work to be done safely
- Proof of practical workplace experience
- Attendance of CPD workshop/activity
- IWH Re-assessment
CERTIFIED WORK AT HEIGHT PRACTITIONER specializing as a:
1.2
ROPE ACCESS
PRACTITIONER (Lev2)
A registered Rope Access Practitioner is a professional in a junior-supervisory capacity and who can be placed in a position of limited control or supervision of a small team, typically consisting of one to four Rope access technicians. A rope access practitioner has limited abilities relating to the management of responsibility for the safety of the team in terms of job planning, risk assessment, rope rigging, and rescue procedures.
Criteria for Obtaining Recognition
To be recognised with the IWH Prof Body as a ROPE ACCESS PRACTITIONER the professional must be competent in the following unit standards:
Academic Component
Must have completed the following NQF registered unit standards:
- Unit Standard 229998: Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height (Lev 1; 2 cred)
- Unit Standard 230000: Perform a limited range of rope access tasks and rescues (lev 2; 6 cred)
- Unit Standard 229996: Rig working ropes, undertake rescues and perform a range of rope access tasks (Lev 3; 6 cred)
- Must also have completed the IWH PB Board-Assessment
(If the person has not completed this training programme but have proof of experience, the person can also complete the IWH PB’s RPL assessment, and if found competent, the person will be licensed accordingly).
(Training and assessment must be conducted by a SETA ETQA/QCTO accredited and IWH Professional Body recognised training provider)
Other criteria
- The rope access practitioner designation can only be achieved by persons who have previously achieved a Rope Access Technician designation, and who has the required experience in place.
- Must be in possession of a current, valid medical certificate.
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Must renew his/her license every three years to proof that he/she is still able to perform the work competently and safely
Criteria for re-licensing
- Must still be medically fit for the work to be done safely
- Proof of practical workplace experience
- Attendance of CPD workshop/activity
- IWH Re-assessment
CERTIFIED WORK AT HEIGHT PROFESSIONAL specializing as a:
1.3
ROPE ACCESS
SUPERVISOR (Lev3)
A registered Rope Access Supervisor is a professional of a supervisory nature, who is in control of a team or multiple teams of rope access personnel, typically consisting of Rope access technicians and Rope access practitioners. A Rope Access Supervisor has overall responsibility towards the safety of his/her teams, in terms of work planning, risk assessment, rope rigging, and advanced techniques in rescue procedures
Criteria for Obtaining Recognition
To be recognised with the IWH Prof Body as a ROPE ACCESS SUPERVISOR the professional must be competent in the following unit standards:
Academic Component
Must have completed the following:
- Unit Standard 229998: Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height (Lev 1; 2 cred)
- Unit Standard 230000: Perform a limited range of rope access tasks and rescues (lev 2; 6 cred)
- Unit Standard 229996: Rig working ropes, undertake rescues and perform a range of rope access tasks (Lev 3; 6 cred)
- Unit Standard 230001: Supervise rope access teams and perform advanced manoeuvres and rescues (Lev 4; 6 cred)
- Unit Standard 229997: Select equipment and rig ropes for rope access projects (lev 4; 6 cred)
- Must also have completed the IWH PB Board-Assessment
(If the person has not completed this training programme but have proof of experience, the person can also complete the IWH PB’s RPL assessment, and if found competent, the person will be licensed accordingly).
(Training and assessment must be conducted by a SETA ETQA/QCTO accredited and IWH Professional Body recognised training provider)
Other criteria
- The Rope Access Supervisor designation can only be achieved by persons who have previously achieved a Rope Access Practitioner designation, and who has the required experience in place.
- Must be in possession of a current, valid medical certificate.
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Must renew his/her license every three years to proof that he/she is still able to perform the work competently and safely
Criteria for re-licensing
- Must still be medically fit for the work to be done safely
- Proof of practical workplace experience
- Attendance of CPD workshop/activity
- IWH Re-assessment
CERTIFIED WORK AT HEIGHT PROFESSIONAL specializing as a:
2.
ROPE ACCESS
MANAGER
The registered Rope Access Manager is a person authorized by their employer to be responsible for managing the employer’s rope access work program, who is suitably knowledgeable, experienced, and qualified to manage the rope access program, including matters relating to safety, training, regulations, staffing, equipment selection and management, and other program responsibilities as designated by the employer.
Criteria for Obtaining Recognition
To be recognised with the IWH Prof Body as a ROPE ACCESS MANAGER the professional must be competent in the following unit standards:
Academic Component
Must have completed the following:
- Unit Standard 229998: Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height (Lev 1; 2 cred)
- Unit Standard 230000: Perform a limited range of rope access tasks and rescues (lev 2; 6 cred)
- Complete First Aid Level 1
- Must also have completed the IWH PB Board-Assessment
(If the person has not completed this training programme but have proof of experience, the person can also complete the IWH PB’s RPL assessment, and if found competent, the person will be licensed accordingly).
(Training and assessment must be conducted by a SETA ETQA/QCTO accredited and IWH Professional Body recognised training provider)
Other criteria
- The Rope Access Manager designation can only be achieved by a person that has logbook with proof of at least working as a Rope Access Technician for 1000 hours (it does not have to be recent)
- Must be in possession of a current, valid medical certificate.
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Must renew his/her license every three years to proof that he/she is still able to perform the work competently and safely
Criteria for re-licensing
- Must still be medically fit for the work to be done safely
- Proof of practical workplace experience
- Attendance of CPD workshop/activity
- IWH Re-assessment