Essential Gear for Rope Access

You may be familiar with the construction industry and the importance of worker safety. Given that they are often working in heights, they must wear the proper gear and have proper support from equipment to prevent getting into accidents. The same can be said for rope access, which utilises various equipment to ensure safety. If you are interested in becoming a rope access technician or starting a similar type of work, the first step will be getting the right equipment.

Rope access has long been considered a cost-effective and efficient method to access areas that are difficult to reach. However, to ensure the work is done with minimal to no accidents, getting the right rope access equipment is integral to the job. Before you get started with any form of rope access work, it is highly recommended that you get training to familiarise yourself with the equipment you will encounter frequently. However, either way, check out this list of some of the essential items you will need.

Harness 

Harnesses may come in different variants, and the type you need will depend on what kind of work you are doing. For example, a full-body harness will be ideal if you are at risk of falling as it provides you with adequate protection and contains many attachment points, making it suitable for rescue situations. However, full-body harnesses in themselves can come in varying sizes, buckles, and comfortability, so it is important to get one that suits your intended application.

Ascender

As its name suggests, an ascender is a device that allows you to ascend a rope. You will commonly encounter two types, one for the chest and one for the hand, and having both is highly recommended for additional safety and protection. Using only one can lead to many risks, such as the ascender slipping off or coming off the rope. It may be possible to use one if there is a low probability of falling, but no matter the circumstances, it is still best to use two in all cases.

Descender

If you have the ascender in your tool kit, you will naturally also need a descender for your rope access equipment. This device also utilises friction to help you lower workers or loads in a controlled manner. Essentially, its function is the opposite of the ascender’s as it is used for descending, but helps you control the movement. If you are using this tool for industrial applications, it is important to get one with a self-braking mechanism, which activates if you let go of the device.

Helmet

The standard safety helmet is undoubtedly one of the most important and basic equipment to prepare for rope access work. Wearing a reliable and durable helmet can protect your head from falling debris and possible bumps. Regardless of what type of work you are doing, whether it is at a height or not, you must have a helmet on at all times to minimise the risk of accidents or injuries.

Lanyard

A safety lanyard is used to link your harness to an anchor. Restraint lanyards help prevent you from reaching heights or positions where a fall may occur. As for fall arrest lanyards, these are used for cases where it is inevitable to reach a position with a fall hazard. However, in the event of a fall, the lanyard will reduce the impact on your body by “absorbing” the energy.