Rope protection
The IRATA ICOP Annex P sets out a clear hierarchy for the protection of anchor lines against hazardous surfaces:
Remove (the hazard, where feasible) → Avoid (the hazard, with re-anchors or deviations) → Protect (against the hazard with rope protection measures).
Pre-work planning
It is an essential part of pre-work planning and risk assessment that any threat to the integrity of the rope system is identified and dealt with in an unquestionably effective manner.
- Scrutinise the intended path of the ropes in detail from top to bottom.
- Consider sideways/lateral movement of the ropes during operations.
When edges can't be avoided
Where possible, every effort should be made to use rigging solutions to keep the ropes away from sharp or hot surfaces — Y-hangs, deviations and re-belays. Additional rope protection may still be required to protect against sideways/lateral movements.
Where it is not possible to avoid contact with hazardous edges, effective rope protection must be deployed.
Sufficient protection
In order to offer sufficient protection, the surface or edge should be increased to greater than 5 mm and covered with a layer of suitable and sufficient padding. In addition:
- Each rope should have its own rope protector.
- Canvas rope protectors should be attached to the ropes with a solid link — i.e. directly connected to an Alpine Butterfly knot.
Wire sling bypass arrangements may also be considered as a further layer of protection.
Edge rollers and protective edge plates may also be considered as an alternative to canvas rope protectors — but always in addition to suitable and sufficient edge padding.
Rope security — stopper knots
All ropes, whether reaching ground level or not, should have a stopper knot tied at a suitable point to:
- Prevent the operative from accidentally descending off the end of the rope.
- Bunch the sheath of the rope up against the knot in the event of serious shock loading with an ascender — this might prevent the operative falling all the way to the floor.
It is important not to have excess rope coiled on the floor.