The National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program (NWISP) reported 212 construction fatalities in 2021, marking another year that the construction industry experienced the most workplace fatalities. Falls are a significant cause of construction fatalities and other injuries.

A company that installs and equips its workers with compliant fall protection equipment takes a major step to prevent falls. Still, it is not enough, especially for personal protection equipment (PPE), notably lifelines. Employers must go further and provide their supervisors and employees with certified training.

The earliest evidence of hominids using rope dates back about 50,000 years ago among the Neanderthal, and it has never gone out of style. As in earlier times, rope and cable lifelines are still essential for workers to access heights in construction.

The Industrial Rope Access Training Association (IRATA) and the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) actively promote the safe use of rope access through education, standards development, and certification administration.

IRATA training, initially developed for the petroleum industry, covers three progressive levels of instruction and certification. Level 1 includes rope access manoeuvers, equipment inspections, rigging, and self-rescue. Level 2 provides further advancement in manoeuvers and rigging. Level 3 is for the supervisor on rope access projects and will gain a comprehensive knowledge of advanced rescue techniques.

SPRAT training also has three progressive levels, like IRATA courses and certification. SPRAT and IRATA feature instructions on current legislation, safety requirements, and rope access quality assurance procedures.

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