Control measure Use a secondary system or build in redundancy
Control measure knowledge
Using rope-based systems for access and rescue gives additional flexibility in certain operational environments but the same systems can be vulnerable to damage or failure. This can lead to catastrophic failure.
Poor selection of, or damage to, anchor systems, poor stowage/maintenance, incorrect system selection or operator errors can put personnel and casualties in danger. Using secondary systems to back up any possible system failure is therefore recommended and should be implemented wherever possible.
Redundancy should be built in to rope access and rope rescue systems, to act as a backup in case of failure. This can be done in many ways, but the most usual is to use a two-line system that starts at the anchors and works through the whole system to the operator and casualty.
Strategic actions
Tactical actions
Incident commanders should:
- Implement pre-determined procedures and emergency arrangements at incidents involving working at height
- Use only personnel trained in the equipment and systems to advise or supervise work at height operations
- Ensure that work at height operating systems include an appropriate degree of redundancy
TRAINING SPECIFICATION
Knowledge and understanding
| Control measure element | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
Use a secondary system |
Understand:
|
Practical application
| Control measure element | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
Use secondary systems to provide redundancy when working at height |
Demonstrate the ability to:
|
- Control measureUse appropriate work equipment
- Control measureEstablish appropriate cordon controls: Work at height