This 40-hour course is intended to prepare candidates for the SPRAT or IRATA Level II Technician certification.  Level II focuses on more advanced rigging required of the Technician working in a wide variety of environments.  Self- and team-rescue, including hauling and lowering skills, will be emphasized.  Unlike traditional rescue courses, the course focuses on building efficient rescue skills within a small team.

 

Learning Objectives

Following the course and successful completion of the evaluation, the technician should be able to:

·          evaluate the safety of rope access equipment and systems

·          perform basic and advanced access techniques

·          understand fundamental system analysis

·          establish anchor systems

·          efficiently perform standard rescue procedures using mechanical advantage and lowering systems

 

Safety Standards and Documentation

·          Review of Guidelines for Rope Access Work and relevant legislation

·          Qualifications and responsibilities required of each level of Rope Access Technician

·          Review of various methods of access and hierarchy of risk

·          Documentation including experience logbooks, equipment logs, and job hazard analysis (rope access permit)

·          Consistent safety checks

·          Insuring proper and effective communication between team members

·          Establishing Access, Hazard, and Safe Zones

·          Care, Inspection, Use, and Limitations of Equipment

Systems Analysis and Rigging

·          Knots: Figure 8 and 9, Double-figure eight, Butterfly, Prusik, Barrel Knot, Double Fisherman's, and Clove Hitch

·          Practice advanced rigging skills (structural and load sharing/distributing multi-point anchoring) taking into account fall line, rigging angles, area of work, and terrain

·          Application of redirect and rebelay anchors

·          Pre-rigging anchors for lowering or pull-through

·          Discussion of anchor installation and testing

·          Analysis of rope access systems, including fall factors, impact forces, and resultant forces

 

Technical Rope Access Skills

·          Ascent/Descent and change-overs

·          Passing knots, deviations, and intermediate anchors (re-belay)

·          Rope to rope transfer

·          Horizontal aid climbing: point to point and shuffling

·          Structure climbing: Overview of horizontal/vertical lifelines, shock absorbing Y-lanyards, and other standard fall protection systems

 

Rescue 

·          Risk management, rescue protocol, and casualty management

·          Extensive practice with mechanical advantage systems utilizing standard equipment and pulley systems

·          Breaking into tensioned fixed ropes with haul systems

·          Pitch head hauling

·          Converting between lowering and hauling

·          Single person rescue pick-off of a descending and ascending casualty

 

Prerequisites

Candidates seeking certification to SPRAT or IRATA Level II Technician must have appropriate previous industrial rope access experience (current SPRAT requirements are 500 hours).  The minimum age requirement is 18 years. Participants will be asked to perform moderate to strenuous activities.  A physical examination by a doctor is strongly recommended. Candidates will be required to sign a Liability Release Form and a Statement of Medical Condition confirming the absence of known medical conditions that might preclude their ability to safely work at height.  Please see attached physical requirements for rope access work for more details.