Industrial Rope Access (IRA) is a safe and effective way to work in difficult or dangerous locations. Trained workers use special tools and two ropes attached to separate anchor points for safety. IRA has its origins in recreational rope work and is recognized globally as a safe method for working in hard-to-reach areas. The equipment used includes ropes, harnesses, carabiners, descenders, shunts, and personal gear. IRA jobs include inspection, maintenance and repair, surface preparation and painting, construction services, and geotechnical works. The reach of the rope access industry is growing due to increased demand for workers who are IRA certified.
Industrial Rope Access (IRA) is a safe and effective way to work in locations that are difficult or dangerous to access, such as high-rise exteriors, mine shafts or communications towers. A trained worker uses special tools and two ropes which are attached to two separate anchor points for safety reasons. One of the ropes is the working rope and the other is the lifeline or backup rope. Typically, rope access experts have second-level experience, such as painting, construction work, or welding.
Sometimes people refer to the IRA as vertical access or high access. The IRA has its origins in recreational rope work, such as caving and rock climbing. The first large-scale use was on offshore oil rigs. Other companies have adapted the techniques to their needs and today the IRA is recognized globally as a safe method for working in areas that are difficult to access. Rope access can be combined with other types of access, such as ladders and scaffolding, and adds an extra layer of safety to the job.
Ropes and harnesses are some of the most well-known equipment a climber needs. Other pieces of hardware include various forms of carabiners, one type of clip; several types of descenders that control the speed of descents; and shunts. Many companies offer various styles of personal gear, such as knee and elbow pads, gloves and helmets. Some equipment, such as headlights and quick release tool bags, are typically used for specific jobs. The primary purpose of the equipment is to protect the worker; safety and security of personnel is the entire premise behind industrial rope access.
Some experts divide IRA jobs into five main areas of work. The first is inspection, which includes the inspection of man-made and natural structures. A second category is the maintenance and repair of facilities. Another category is surface preparation and painting. Like many of the categories, this includes bridges and other non-inhabitable structures. Construction services and geotechnical works are the last two categories.
Construction services may include window cleaning and repairs, facade care, and general cleaning. Unscheduled jobs for workers who have rope access certification can include pest control, putting up banners and signs, and maintaining wind turbines. Some types of man-made structures that may require IRA workers are mine shafts, tall trees, and even interior areas of buildings, such as lobbies and botanic domes. Some examples of geotechnical work are rock fall prevention work, rock anchoring and cliff restoration. Special projects, such as cleaning and restoring the presidential sculptures of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, often require IRA-certified workers.
The reach of the rope access industry is growing. Many architects have incorporated the support of the rope access system into their buildings. The emphasis on industrial safety has created a demand for workers who are IRA certified. Increased awareness and concern for the environment has generated an increased demand for IRA geotechnical jobs.
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