Rope access

Called rope -supported work processes, also known as cable -supported access technologies (RAT ), industrial climbing, rope- supported work processes, rope access work technique, Techno Sport or colloquially rope work, the work positioning is under -scheduled load of ropes for the performance of artisanal, monitoring or other tasks. The rope access in labor input is done using techniques that have evolved from the Einseiltechnik caving, rappelling and out of climbing techniques.

• 2.1 Beginnings and establishment
• 2.2 History in Germany
• 2.3 Establishing a branch in Germany

Basics of Function and Range

Demarcation from other climbing techniques

SCT themselves off from climbing as a sport, because the motivation is not here the conquest of an obstacle, but enabling a work activity at a location that would be in any other way, or only with cost-and material-intensive means accessible.

In the procedure, it is not comparable with the technical alpine climbing, since in most cases an access from above by abseiling. This corresponds to the approach in speleology, which established the Einseiltechnik first time.

In contrast to mountain sports, the possibility of a fall is excluded on the rope, the job is achieved through special work positioning method. This is done by the use of a core shroud rope standard EN 1891 ( semi-static core rope of man-made fiber ( mainly polyamide 6.6) ), that would be unsuitable for the collection of a fall. If the support system fail, an additional assurance guarantees (according to EN 353-2; idler gear types in Mobile guide ) for an effective prevention of the crash.

Rope -supported work processes

Height workers today are well-trained in Germany users - unsecured work is no longer permitted by standards of modern occupational safety. Abseiling mainly using standardized specialist equipment off and do their work. Then they abseil depending on the local conditions to the bottom or rise from the rope again. For fall protection working for security as opposed to sport climbing exception with a second backup.

In order to react quickly to hazards such as suspension trauma, education and the pretense at self-rescue and rescue of other persons is mediated

Areas of application

Height workers come above all for use when scaffolding or elevated work platform compared are not too dangerous or economically feasible:

• Installation, such as wind turbines, structural steel erection work and another in high-rise construction, bridge construction, for oil rigs, etc. and other work in which technical collection means can not be used.
• Roof repairs and wood protection - in particular about from church roofs, chimney restoration, installation of bird control and lightning protection systems, facade renovation, corrosion protection of metal and concrete with technical structures, painting work, joint repair & sealing work
• Maintenance of high buildings, window and gutter cleaning, cleaning activities in the industrial and power plant sector
• Rock protection ( " Rock brushing " ) in road construction and above settlement areas
• Performing photo documentation and building surveys
• Installation of advertising banners
• Assembly of persons fishing nets, dust protection nets and protective mats in advance of blasting
• Personal and material safety work in film production, maintenance of stage cable systems
• In stage and event technology climbers are known as climbers or Rigger

Organised altitude rescue and mountain rescue services, however, usually are not applications of rope access technicians. However, the amount workers are partly to ensure rapid rescue eg used on large construction sites.

History

Beginnings and establishment

Cable locks in the height of labor are common only since the 1930s. One of the first prominent job sites where workers were subject to self- assurance, was the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in the later 1930s, where Joseph B. Strauss was able to keep the mortality rate far below the average of that period.

The Industriekletterei in the modern sense was developed in the 1970s in the UK. The establishment, maintenance and repair of oil rigs in the North Sea prompted British climbers to work with rope techniques. However rudimentary rope access work procedures were already in the harvesting of birds' eggs on steep cliffs in the early 20th century - performed - especially in England. Due to European guidelines on occupational safety, the working procedure with a second safety rope was. The oil and gas industry required a redundant cable and for trained for rope workers. The Association of Industrial Rope Access Trade Association ( IRATA ) was founded in the early 1970s in England. With over 15,000 licensed worldwide industrial climbers is the largest association in the field of rope access work method. Meanwhile, there are organizations in different countries for this work, such as the IRAA in Australia, the SPRAT in the U.S. and the FISAT in Germany.

History in Germany

At the same time, this technique has also been used in the GDR. For example, for sealing joints in prefabricated climbers have been used since the erection of scaffolding would have meant much more effort. This work procedures have been nationally recognized and referred to as techno sports. The GDR had for its own technical rules ( " TGR "). After the reunification of the Industriekletterei in Germany was stopped in its development, as this form of work positioning were not recognized by the professional associations as accident insurance institutions. In 1995, the trade and advocacy group for rope access techniques eV was founded in Germany. The Association has teamed various expert groups and by participating in various national, European and international bodies achieved the approval of this method of work and implementation in European accident prevention regulations.

1995 established the artists Christo and Jeanne- Claude industry climbing in Europe, by their sheer special permit for the use of rope access work practices in the wrapping of the Reichstag.

Establishment of an industry in Germany

In Germany, rope-assisted access and positioning techniques formally only since the mid-1990s by the trade association of the building industry ( BG Bau) are allowed. Previously, although there were activities, but found this place in a legal gray zone. In the GDR active companies working according to the applicable technical standards since 1988, quality specifications and delivery ( TGL ), which were placed with the reunification overridden. The professional and trade association for rope access techniques eV occurs as an umbrella organization and stakeholders in the industry. The Association issued in 1997 guidelines for training and safety for rope access techniques. Since then, users of rope work process in Germany can complete a recognized by this unit training.

The standard of education represented by the association are not yet internationally recognized. An international standard for the safe rope work was indeed developed (ISO 10333-1 to 10333-3 ), but was not yet adopted by the European Union in their standard work. The use of rope work process is mainly regulated in Germany by the Technical Rules for reliability TRBS 2121-3. Precursor to this rule were the ZH 709/710 and then the BGR 198 / 199th

The activity is not a recognized profession in Germany. For commercial use appropriate training in rope access SCT (level 1-3) and pass an exam, and training in work and rescue procedures in Germany according to German and European health and safety regulations must be produced. A valid first aid basic course and an occupational health screening G41 are prescribed. A craft education is not necessary for training approval.

Situation in Austria

Austria:

• § 14 WEA training, Employee Protection Act Austria
• ÖNORM Z 1700 Secure access to antenna systems ( web link, Austrian Standards Institute )

Normative and legal references

• TRBS 2121-3: Personal injury due to crash - Provision and Use of access and positioning techniques The use of rope ( download)