Choose your language

Pick the language you'd like to read the manual in. You can change this later in Settings.

IRATA Training Manual

Work through each chapter at your own pace. Your progress is saved locally on this device.

Your progress0%

0 of 67 topics complete

Table of contents

  1. 01

    Introduction

    The importance of training, what this manual is, and the IRATA training, assessment and certification scheme.

  2. 02

    About IRATA

    IRATA's mission, and the moral, economic and legal reasons for maintaining the highest safety standards.

  3. 03

    Legislation

    The UK statutory framework that governs work at height: HSE Act, WAHR, MHSW, LOLER, PUWER, COSHH, PPE, Noise, Manual Handling and RIDDOR.

  4. 04

    Risk Assessments & Method Statements

    Identifying hazards, evaluating risks, recording findings, writing method statements and operating permit-to-work systems.

  5. 05

    Equipment

    The PPE and rope-access hardware that makes up an industrial rope-access kit — selection, standards, marking, inspection and storage.

  6. 06

    Knots

    The core knots used in rope access, their applications, strength loss and how to dress and set them.

  7. 07

    Rigging

    Two-rope security, Y-hangs, deviations, re-anchors, rope protection and choosing anchors.

  8. 08

    Rope Access Manoeuvres

    Pre-use checks, safe access to the ropes, ascending and descending, changeovers, transfers and passing obstacles.

  9. 09

    Fall Arrest

    Choosing fall arrest equipment, calculating clearance distances, fall factors and the risk of suspension trauma.

  10. 10

    Rescue

    Rescue principles, snatch rescues, deviation and re-anchor rescues, mid-transfer, knot, aid-climb and loop rescues.

  11. 11

    Hauling & Lowering

    Mechanical advantage, hauling systems, lowering systems and self-locking pulley setups.

  12. 12

    Glossary

    A reference glossary of terms, acronyms and abbreviations used throughout this manual.


Download manual (PDF)

Pick a language to download in.