Rope access and confined space

Rope access
In certain situations, accessing the work site is tricky, making it necessary to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is the case, for example, during the installation of collective protection (lifelines, protective nets, etc.), or when overhanging structures or worksites do not allow for mobile platforms or scaffolding to be used. This is also the case for temporary access situations (worksite inspection, repair work, etc.), where it is not practical to set up collective protection.

The worker at height accesses the site with ropes, using techniques taken from caving and mountaineering. A site can be accessed from the top (safer and simpler to set up, this is the technique of choice), or from below (a leader sends a rope up and around a fixed point, and then climbs up the rope using mountaineering progression techniques. Once the leader has installed all the progression and safety ropes, the other workers can safely climb up these ropes.

Confined spaces
Work done in confined spaces carries specific additional difficulties related primarily to the lack of space and to the absence of any means of autonomous progression. At the same time, the worker may face numerous additional constraints: length of the intervention, air quality, temperature, etc. Since he cannot move about or ensure his own safety, someone working in this type of environment must have assistance.

Confined spaces are generally accessed from the top, using a suitable hauling system. The worker's safety is ensured by a reversible hauling system, which is independent and reliable and works without an external energy source, allowing a quick evacuation in case of an accident or power failure.

Photo (c) Knutt Foppe