is there a supervisor on site?

All rope access work should be supervised at all times by a competent and qualified Level 3 Supervisor, meaning a work team should be comprised of at least two technicians, one of whom will be a supervisor. Supervisors are required to have in-date First-Aid tickets.

The supervisor must be present and is responsible for the overall safety of the project.

• Is the supervisor on site with their team?

• Is the supervisor’s First-Aid ticket current and available?

• Are they currently qualified, competent and available throughout the project?

• Are they familiar with the work plan, rescue plan and all equipment being used?

• Is there effective communication system between the supervisors and the workers that can not easily be disrupted by weather or obstructions?

are all technicians certified?

All technicians rope access certifications should be current and the tasks assigned to them relevant to their level of certification and experience.

• Are all technicians certified?

• Are their certifications current?

• Does the work performed by them correspond to their certification level?

is the equipment being used properly?

All rope access technicians should be trained on the equipment they are currently using.

• Are equipment manuals available on site (digitally or physically)?

• Have the workers and supervisors been officially trained on the equipment being used by either their employer or their training provider?

• Is the equipment being used properly and according to the manufacturers’ guidance?

• Is all equipment compatible and have their interactions been considered? Has equipment misuse been considered?

is the equipment FIT FOR USE, inspected and traceable?

All equipment should be fit for use and in good condition. All items should have proof of inspection (daily and thorough) and be traceable.

• Is the equipment on site in good condition and fit for use?

• Are there inspection records available (both daily and thorough)?

• Do all items (including ropes, lanyards, carabiners and helmets) have unique id tags or serial numbers?

• Are all items within their expiry date (specially fabrics and plastics)?

Is there adequate rope protection?

Proper rope protection is a vital area of attention at a rope access job site.

• Have all the ropes been protected against damage by hazards such as sharp building features, chemicals or hot surfaces?

• Is the protection method adequate against the hazard (i.e. fabric protectors are not suitable for sharp edges, if it can cut the rope it can cut the fabric protection)?

• Has sideways movement been considered in terms of rope protection efficacy?

is there a site-specific hazard analysis?

All workers have the right to participate in the analysis of hazards and the implementation of controls associated with them. The document should list the hazards, identify who can be harmed and how to implement controls to prevent or minimize the risks.

Both rope access associations require a Hazard Assessment or Job Safety Analysis and mitigation plan to be performed and in place.

• Is there a site-specific Hazard Assessment or JSA in place?

• Has it been reviewed and signed by the technicians on site?

• Has the team discussed it together and all agree with the controls in place?

is there a site-specific work plan or method statement?

All technicians should understand what the project tasks are and how the work is going to be performed. That includes team composition, access, anchorage, techniques involved, equipment required, tools used, exclusion zones and team communication.

• Is there a Work Plan or Method Statement in place describing the steps for the safe completion of work tasks?

• Does the plan have a step-by-step description of tasks?

• Does it specify team composition?

• Does it describe how the access is going to be achieved and the techniques involved?

• Does it identify anchorage used and rigging methods?

• Does it list specific equipment / tools required for rigging and work performed?

• Does it require exclusion zones and prevent equipment and tools from being dropped?

• Does it establish effective team communication based on site conditions (hand signals, direct communication, radios, cellphones, etc)

• Does the reality of the job site match the items in the work plan?

is there a site-specific rescue/emergency plan?

On top of the Work Plan / Method Statement, provisions for prompt rescue should be written in a site-specific Rescue Plan.

• Is there a site specific Rescue Plan?

• Is there a First-Aid kit on site?

• Does the team understand the plan, their roles in it and the equipment used in the advent of a real rescue?

• Is there enough equipment to perform the rescue plan?