Wanting advice on LOLER with respects to slings

[AdrianH]

I know the lads are not rope access trained, yet! some are asking to be trained in it, but the company has needed rope access to work once in over 12 months so we, brought in a specialist company for that work.

I am happy they are buying in the correct gear, as the place that sells it trains them and has an understanding of the work the lads are doing.

I am also assuming it is all under LOLER, and others such as working from height etc.
Adrian

 

[addjunkie]

Isnt climbing not what rope access guys do......

 

[AdrianH]

The lads do climbing of masts and structures, towers etc. The rope access training i have seen is for coming down from structures where you are suspended in air by the ropes and harness you wear, sort of like window cleaners down the side of a building when there is no cradle, changing light bulbs on a football floodlights etc again where there is nothing to hold on to.

Or in out case where we brought in specialists, a steel column tower where the access was 10 metres above the work area and a 30 metre drop to the floor.

I generally think of rope access as descending to the work area as opposed to rock climbers, but i may be wrong, it is not something I would wish to do nowadays.

Adrian

 

[addjunkie]

In many industries now, offshore, nucular, tree surgery, up the side of motorways where shurbs need cutting or loose stone RATS climb or descend to get to where they need to to do a job ( NDT, rigging, blasting, painting, electrical inspection and repair, welding all sorts). They use climbing gear, harnesses etc. They also do whats called rig to rescue should one of the team need rescuing where the person is winched up or down as required.

They always have a level 3 RAT takes charge similar to at AP for lifting, ie legally accountable.

Saves a fortune in time and cost scaffolding

 

[AdrianH]

So it is a case where you need to be above and suspend from ropes to work, the lads have asked training, but we have to look at cost effectiveness for the types of work they do. Up to now it is structures they can stand on and work on, they have fall arrestors etc at all times when climbing the ladders to the point of work. At present I doubt it would be cost effective for us to train them for that type of work. They are trained in rope rescue, but again that has been done from tower/structure.

I must admit I could not imagine 30 metre scaffolding around a mast.
It was 15 to 20 years ago since I last climbed or did serious work at height, I found it getting bad enough in a 30 metre MEWP, so decided to stay on the floor, the younger lads can have the effort.

I just want to make sure the systems are safe and proportionate for what they do.

Adrian

 

[addjunkie]

They probably ask for training as there is good money to be made plying a trade dangling from rope, but the training is quite expensive!

 

[Robotstar5]

As the bulk of my lifting gear is used infrequently i have 3 large lidded buckets marked up Purple,Yellow & Green for storage each containing a copy of the relevant inspection info.
I have been considering sealing the lids with a inspected by & on (insert date /name) label. As there is no point doing regular inspections on kit that is not regularly used.

I know some of our gear has not been used for 2-3 years, but it is still inspected every 6 months by a couple of Zurich inspectors, we have so much kit on site it's a full time job for them. Even a couple of metal steps to get from one level to another on the conveyor catwalks has an inspection tag!.

 

[Pete.]

They probably ask for training as there is good money to be made plying a trade dangling from rope, but the training is quite expensive!

Looking at it cynically they are probably looking for someone to fund training so they can earn more money elsewhere. Or is that what you meant?

 

[AdrianH]

Not cynical at all, now the company has clauses if you want to climb and undertake the training you must stay for a set time or pay back for the training costs. I believe many companies do the same due to the investment costs.

Adrian

 

[WorkshopChris]

I would imagine they must have a inspection date or similar maybe returned to the manufactures fo

I know some of our gear has not been used for 2-3 years, but it is still inspected every 6 months by a couple of Zurich inspectors, we have so much kit on site it's a full time job for them. Even a couple of metal steps to get from one level to another on the conveyor catwalks has an inspection tag!.

Everyone loves a bit of paperwork theses days.
I have just spent some time on a site, i am normally in my workshop or at my customers premises, but have been covering for the guy in the unit opposite who is having cancer treatment, so have been on site work in london.
The site agent wanted to see all the documents for the hired in Genie lifts as we were not allowed them until he had inspected them.
But he had no problem with them having to be used on scaffold planks across the foundation holes directly below out lifting area.
Prying them up and down the planks with a suspended load.

 

[Brad93]

My slings for rope access are all tagged with the date of manufacture, EN standard, etc.
I've never had them inspected/tested under LOLER. I think as they're used as anchors they come under the PPE heading and a competent person can inspect every 6 months.

 

[Brad93]

If you ever need a level 3 and a level 1 IRATA rope access technician hit me up.
We've done some big stuff.

My colleague is a level 3 with 2 or 3 thousand hours offshore experience, and I'm a level 1 usually doing bird netting, roofing, steelworks.

 

[AdrianH]

When next in the office catching up on this stuff I will have a closer look at what they have in the lifting bags, as said this is really dealing with the lifting of antennas and dishes up towers/masts, for now.
It is good to know there is a wealth of knowledge on here and I can pick brains from time to time. Health and Safety is usually disliked although the lads have also used it to their advantage from time to time, but it's the boring part of the days work to complete the paperwork.

I thank you all for your input.

Whilst there is some sun on this Sunday, although a bit cold, think I will get the kit car out and enjoy a drive.

Have fun, be safe.

Adrian