Glossary — A to E
ACWAHT — The HSE-led 'Advisory Committee for Work at Height Training'.
Anchor / Anchorage — A place, fixing or fixture to which an anchor line is connected.
Anchor Line / Anchorage Line — A flexible line connected at least at one end to a reliable anchor to provide a means of support, restraint or other safeguard for a person wearing a harness in conjunction with other devices. An anchor line may be a working or safety line.
ARAA — Australian Rope Access Association.
Ascender — A rope adjustment device which, when attached to a rope of appropriate type and diameter, will lock under load in one direction and slip freely in the opposite direction.
Back-up Device — A rope adjustment device for a safety line of appropriate type and diameter, which accompanies the user during changes of position or allows adjustment of the length of the safety line, and which locks automatically to the rope, or only allows limited movement along it, when a sudden load is applied.
Belay — A place where either anchor lines or people may be anchored or secured.
Belay Device — A device used to adjust the ropes during lead climbing or rescue operations.
Belayer — The person controlling the belay device during climbing or rescue operations.
Body Support — A belt or harness.
Breaking Load (BL) — See also Failure Load (FL), Minimum Breaking Load (MBL). The minimum breaking load of an item of equipment when it is new.
Carabiner / Karabiner — A type of connector, formed as a complete loop, with a spring-loaded entry gate which should be safeguarded in the closed position by a screwed ring (screwgate), automatic locking device (twistlock) or similar.
CDM — Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994.
CE — For rope access equipment, it provides confirmation that a product meets the minimum requirements of the European Directive on Health and Safety: 'Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992'.
CHSW — Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996.
CITB — Construction Industry Training Board.
Competent Person — A person with sufficient professional or technical training and knowledge, actual experience and authority to carry out their assigned duties, recognise potential hazards, detect defects or omissions which may have health and safety implications, and specify remedial actions to mitigate the implications.
Conformity Certificate — A certificate issued by the manufacturer or equipment supplier confirming that the item of equipment meets the requirements of the appropriate Directive and conforms to any standard that it claims to meet.
Connector — An openable device used to connect components, which enables a person to link him- or herself directly or indirectly to an anchor. It should as a minimum be of the double-closure type (screwgate, twistlock or similar).
COSHH — Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
Cow's tail — A short length of dynamic rope connected to the main attachment point of the harness.
CSCS — Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
Descender — A manually operated, friction-inducing rope adjustment device which allows the user to achieve a controlled descent and a stop with hands off anywhere on the anchor line.
Dynamic Rope — A rope specifically designed to absorb energy in a fall by extending in length, thereby minimising the impact force.
EN — European Norm (or Standard).
Energy Absorber / Shock Absorber — Component(s) in a fall arrest system, designed to minimise the impact force generated by a fall.
Exclusion Zone — Zone designated to exclude the public from a hazardous area and from rope access equipment, or to exclude the operatives from a hazardous area, unless suitably protected.