RISK ASSESSMENT – A ROPE ACCESS PERSPECTIVE

Assessor & Instructor
Original IRATA Level 3 – North Sea

1989
Worldwide Independent Consultant

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the potential risks that may be involved in a projected

activity or undertaking.
Specific and detailed work instruction for the effective protection of all members of the work team and others affected by their actions.
A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork, but rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace.

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a negative outcome.
Consequence – Negative outcome.
Control - Eliminating, or minimising,

the potential for a negative outcome.

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1999:
3,- (1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment

of –
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.

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judge?
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page or generic?
Training and assessment
Qualification and capability.
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they familiar enough with specialist activities to make informed judgments?
Educate

clients to help their understanding – training, demonstration, explanation ...
A client who understands what he is looking at is liable to be more relaxed and understanding towards “unusual” activity in their facility.

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alert to environment.
Workers – Initial communication and understanding, layout

and presentation, language.
Declaration with Signatures:
“I have been fully briefed in the attached risk assessment, I understand all aspects of it and agree to follow its contents. Particularly, I understand my personal roles and responsibilities with the team”

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Risk Assessment Daily Review
Access Method
Rigging

Considerations
Hazards to rope
Rescue Plan
Individual Team Member Roles
Exclusion Zones
Tools & Materials
Weather

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guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height

Regulations 2005.

Following the case, the HSE Inspector, said:

“This was a tragic incident and the death could have been prevented had The Company planned the job correctly and put suitable safety measures in place.

“Assessing the risks of that job properly would have identified that the potentially sharp edge presented a very clear danger to anyone suspended and working on ropes rigged against it.

“However, the company failed to do this so failed to take safety precautions and instead,
The Individual fell to his death.”

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Five Steps to Risk Assessment.
Step 1: Identify the hazards.
Step 2:

Decide who, or what, might be harmed and how.
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them.
Step 5: Review your risk assessment and update if necessary.

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HOW
WHO?
Our work team, including varying capabilities and experience within the

team.
Other workers on site.
WHAT?
Property and equipment damage.
Environmental damage.

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approach when considering control measures:
Remove the hazard completely
Try a less

hazardous material or option
Prevent access to the hazard
Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard
Increase level of information, training and supervision
Issue PPE and provide welfare facilities

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Subjective
Attempt to be quantitative
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Format 1

– using matrix

Less subjective
More qualitative than quantitative
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Format 2

– No Matrix

you are doing on an ongoing basis:

Have there

been any significant changes in your environment?

Can you make any improvements?

Has anyone noticed a problem?

Have you learnt anything from accidents or near misses?

Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date.

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the process by educating them so that they know what

is going on.
Maintain and enhance the safety record and reputation of rope access in industry worldwide.

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