Cladding Removal-Installation Rope Access Safe Work Method Statement

Workers performing rope access cladding work must hold current IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) certification or equivalent Australian rope access qualification such as SPRAT certification. IRATA Level 1 technicians must work under direct supervision of Level 2 or Level 3 technicians and cannot work alone. Level 2 technicians can work independently and supervise Level 1 workers. Level 3 technicians design rope access systems, supervise teams, and perform complex rigging and rescue operations. All certification levels require initial training courses, practical and written examinations, and log book documentation of hours worked at height. Certifications must be renewed every three years requiring re-assessment and minimum logged work hours between renewals. In addition to rope access certification, workers should hold Construction Induction White Card, First Aid certification, and specific training in cladding installation techniques. Employers must verify certification currency and maintain copies of certification cards before permitting workers to perform rope access work.

Rope access anchor points must be designed by structural engineers and certified to withstand minimum 15kN static load in any direction of potential loading, or 21kN if supporting multiple workers. Permanent roof anchors should conform to AS/NZS 1891.3 and be installed according to manufacturer specifications and engineering design. Temporary anchor systems must use load distribution across multiple structural members - never rely on single-point attachments. Common temporary systems include anchor strops around structural steel members, anchor plates distributing loads across multiple roof trusses, or engineered frame systems for buildings without adequate structural anchors. Every anchor point must be tested to 2x working load (30kN) before first use with testing documented including load applied, duration, and any movement or distortion observed. Anchor points require annual inspection and re-certification verifying continued structural adequacy. Never use roof penetrations, air conditioning units, handrails, or other non-structural building elements as anchor points regardless of apparent robustness. Each rope (working line and safety line) requires separate independent anchor points to prevent single-point failure scenarios.

Weather limitations for rope access work should be conservative given exposure of suspended workers and inability to quickly evacuate in deteriorating conditions. Maximum wind speed for cladding work is typically 40 km/h sustained wind, lower when handling large cladding sheets acting as sails. Work must cease immediately when lightning is detected within 10km or thunderstorms are approaching - rope systems and building facades create lightning strike risk. Rain makes ropes slippery affecting descender control and rope grab function - do not work in rain or when ropes are wet. Consider temperature extremes with work cessation below 5°C due to reduced dexterity and hypothermia risk, and above 38°C due to heat stress risk particularly when wearing harnesses restricting airflow. Check detailed weather forecasts before commencing work each day - do not start work if deteriorating conditions forecast within work period. Ensure workers can complete ascent to safety within 20 minutes to allow evacuation before forecast weather changes arrive. Provide weather monitoring equipment including anemometer for wind measurement and lightning detection applications. Brief workers on weather abort procedures and ensure all workers understand authority to cease work if conditions become unsafe regardless of work pressure or deadlines.

Site-specific rescue plan must be developed before commencing rope access work detailing procedures for suspended unconscious worker, rope system failure, worker injury preventing self-rescue, and suspension trauma scenarios. Minimum two rope access technicians must be present whenever workers are suspended, with one available for immediate rescue response. Maintain rescue equipment kit on site including rescue descender device, prussik cord for rope climbing, rescue harness for casualty, lifting slings, and first aid equipment. Position rescue kit at anchor point location allowing rapid deployment. Designate rescue team leader (minimum Level 2 technician) responsible for coordinating rescue and communicating with emergency services. Practice rescue procedures quarterly including unconscious casualty pickup where rescuer descends to casualty, secures them in rescue harness, and performs controlled lower to ground. For suspension trauma cases, casualties must be kept in seated position during rescue and for 20 minutes after rescue - laying flat can cause fatal reperfusion injury. Provide emergency services with building access plans, anchor point locations, and 24-hour emergency contact numbers before commencing work. Maintain communication with suspended workers via two-way radio throughout work period allowing immediate recognition of distress or emergency situations.

Ropes must be inspected before every use through visual and tactile inspection along entire rope length checking for cuts, abrasion, glazing, contamination, excessive dirt, or abnormal stiffness. Inspect particularly carefully at edge contact points where abrasion occurs. Any damage to rope sheath exposing core fibres requires immediate rope retirement. Glazing (shiny hardened appearance from heat) indicates rope has been damaged by friction heat and must be retired. Contamination with oils, chemicals, or solvents compromises rope strength requiring retirement. Document all rope inspections in rope logbook recording date, inspector, findings, and rope condition assessment. Ropes have maximum service life specified by manufacturers typically 2 years from first use for intensive industrial use, 4 years for moderate use, 7 years maximum from manufacture date regardless of use. Retire ropes at service life limits even if appearing undamaged as UV exposure and aging degrade rope strength. Maintain rope usage hour logs and retire at manufacturer specified hour limits - typically 200-400 hours depending on rope type and use intensity. When retiring ropes, cut ends and mark clearly 'RETIRED - DO NOT USE' before disposal preventing inadvertent re-use. Keep retired rope samples if damage was associated with incident for investigation purposes. Never attempt to repair damaged ropes - retirement is only acceptable response to rope damage.