ISO rope access training certification is suitable for companies who work in a specific sector or in defined area and who wish to add in-house rope access capability in specific, lower risk environments to their portfolio. It allows more detailed coverage of training skills in environments similar to the intended rope access work:
- Specialist net rigging
- Geotechnical
- Arboriculture
- Tall structures: mast, towers & WTG
- Window cleaning
- Lightning protection
- Telecoms
heightec offer all levels of ISO rope access training (technician or supervisor) at our national network of Height Safety Centres in Aberdeen, Kendal, Leeds and London.
ISO rope access training is not intended for persons who will be working in varied work locations or who will be required to carry out a range of work tasks. Participants wishing to work as general rope access subcontractors should consider the IRATA Level 1 course.
ISO Rope Access Technician – entry level course designed for those who have specific trade skills but wish to use rope access as a method of gaining access to their worksite.
- The ISO Rope Access Technician course is based broadly on the requirements of BS ISO 22846 for the purpose of undertaking rope access classified as “simple”.
- Covers the characteristics of a safe system of work, including:
- Equipment
- Legal requirements
- Objective hazards
- Risk assessment and method statements
- Conformity and certification
- Inspection
- Emergency considerations
- Rescue procedures
- The practical content of this course includes the requirements of BS ISO 22846; the basic principles of movement on ropes: –
- Ascent
- Descent
- Changing from ascent to descent
- Changing from rope to rope
- Passing a deviation
- Use of a back-up system – elementary rigging and rope management, elementary rescue.
Course elements covered include:
- Selecting suitable equipment, understanding specifications
- Understanding risks from different access methods
- Understanding risks arising from work tasks and situations
- Understanding principles of fall protection hierarchy
- Understanding fall factors and suspension trauma
- Controlling all hazards e.g. from use of tools / falling objects
- Maintain, communication, exclusion zones etc.
- Understanding worksite rescue plan
- Inspection, care and maintenance of equipment
- Understanding work task as defined
- Carry out simple rigging
Practical skills covered in this course include:
- Methods of fall protection
- Equipment fitting and pre-use checks
- Use of backup system
- Safe approach to point of descent / ascent
- Methods of descent and ascent, changing from descent to ascent and back
- Elementary rigging, rope management
- Installing and passing a deviation, changing from one rope to another
- Simple rescue by lowering and vertical rescue by descent
- Selection of anchor points
- Experience of rigging and movement in specific work environment
NOTE: This course is at User level. Employers must ensure that adequate supervision is provided for participants following this course. Supervisors should be competent in all rope access techniques appropriate to the workplace. The level of supervision should be appropriate to the work situation and the number and skills of the operatives in the work team.
ISO Rope Access Supervisor – detailed course for participants with a suitable level of rope access experience, who want to move on to supervise sites of a specific type.
- This is an advanced rope access course for participants who already have a rope access qualification and significant work experience. It is designed for individuals supervising non-hazardous work tasks in straightforward environments with simple vertical drops.
- The ISO Rope Access Supervisor course is broadly based on the requirements of BS ISO 22846 for the purpose of undertaking rope access classified as “simple”.
- Covers applicable legislation, competence in inspection and care of equipment, casualty care, risk assessments, method statements and site management requirements.
- A full range of technical and / or complex access and rigging techniques are covered, including fall protection methods, advanced rescue techniques, lead climbing and pulley systems.
Course elements covered include:
- Ensuring personnel, supervision and work equipment are appropriate
- Rescue – planning for any rescue for a particular work situation.
- Storing, care for and maintaining equipment
- Implementing procedures for selection, inspection and care of equipment
- Implementing procedures, method statements, work plans
- Gaining a general understanding of legal requirements
- Completing risk assessments on site
- Properly manage all access and work equipment on site.
- Inspection of equipment; detailed / thorough / formal / documented
- Manage rescue for specified work site
- Supervise rigging of ropes
- Implementing method statement set out by manager
Practical skills covered in this course include:
- Pass a re-anchor (re-belay)
- Aid climbing
- Traversing
- Use of pulleys
- Passing a knot
- Advanced rigging (re-anchors, traverses etc)
- Rescue of casualty in ascent
- Rescue remote casualty by lifting
- Complex rescue participation
Available for group bookings or special arrangement only – please call for details.
Safety footwear required for all practical sessions.
heightec holds public and professional indemnity insurance which includes personal injury. You should be aware that not all training providers have this cover.
Read our FAQ on IRATA vs ISO Rope Access Training.
It is the participant/booker’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant pre-requisites are met to attend this course and that the evidence is provided on the first day of the course e.g. in-date certificates for revalidation courses. Failure to meet any of these pre-requisites may result in the participant being asked to leave the course. No refund will be given in this event.
