Detailed inspections are a bi-annual (minimum - although could be conducted more frequently) formal procedure, which ensures that all rope access equipment is being correctly maintained and is safe to use. Each company has the responsibility of ensuring that the individual who is performing the inspection, is competent to do so.

In the event your equipment and you were overwhelmed by arduous conditions or an exceptional event, an interim inspection would be carried out afterwards or before your next work day. This is also carried out by a competent person, and is used to verify/ensure that nothing was damaged.

During your IRATA Assessment, all levels will be asked to demonstrate awareness of what’s involved in a detailed and interim inspection, and why regular and recorded examinations of rope access equipment is important. Techs should also be aware of the process for putting a piece of equipment into quarantine or retirement.

L3 certifying techs will be asked to demonstrate competence completing an inspection report (IRATA form 019, or one in your own format), detailing the condition of damaged or worn equipment.

On assessment day, your assessor will specifically be making sure that all levels:

• Can identify failure, damage, and wear and tear to all types of rope access equipment.
• Understand how items can be tracked and controlled.

L3 techs will additionally be presented with various worn or damaged pieces of equipment, and will be responsible for correctly identifying their faults and why they’ve been retired. L3 techs shall also recognize the limits of their competence – although, this last point is really relevant to all levels.

During your training week, we’ll explore all the details related to equipment inspection, using actual pieces of rejected equipment and some visual aids for clarity. Hands-on practice will be key here.

Additional resources to check out:

TACS 6.3.4 for the source material for this blog.

ICOP Part 2, 2.8 for more information on marking and traceability

ICOP Part 2, 2.10 for more information on inspection, care, and maintenance of equipment

ICOP Part 3, Annex H for an equipment inspection checklist

ICOP Part 3, Annex L for a list of information to be recorded following a detailed inspection of rope access equipment

ICOP Part 3, Annex J for resistance to chemicals and other properties of some of the man-made fibres used in the manufacture of rope access equipment

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This is part of an ongoing series, where we’re breaking down IRATA’s syllabus and clarifying exactly what ‘demonstrating competence’ and ‘demonstrating awareness’ means, and what will be expected of you on assessment day. To access the IRATA study guides, click below: