When we talk about IRATA International’s safe system of work, we are talking about three main elements: their International code of practice (ICOP) and training, assessment and certification scheme (TACS), as well as the operating procedure of the audited IRATA members, such as Pacific Ropes.

During your IRATA Assessment, all levels will be asked to demonstrate awareness:

• of the ICOP, TACS, and IRATA member operating procedures, and their role in forming a safe system of work.
• of IRATA’s requirement that all rope access work is carried out within the management framework of an IRATA audited member.
• ICOP's requirement for a L3 rope access safety supervisor.
• of the levels of rope tech competence (L1, L2, L3) and where you fit into the picture.
• of the role of logbooks (including how to fill one out). We wrote a blog post on this.
• of the requirements for revalidation and progression between levels. We wrote a blog post on this.

L3 certifying techs will be asked to demonstrate familiarity (competence) with the scope and content of the ICOP, and may use it for reference when necessary.

On Assessment day, it is likely (especially if you’re a certifying L3 tech) that your assessor will ask you a question you don’t know the answer to. Don’t panic. More important than knowing an answer offhand, is knowing where to find that information (TACS or ICOP) so that you can look it up. We’ll have full copies of both documents available at our training centre -- they are tools you are absolutely encouraged to use. Over and over again in the TACS, you’ll notice that one of the things assessors are watching for is that you understand ‘the limits of your competence’. Be aware of this and act accordingly.

PRO TIP: read these documents BEFORE the beginning of your training week. IRATA’s ‘Training, Assessment, and Certification Scheme (TACS) has 64 pages, and their ‘International Code of Practice for Industrial Rope Techs (ICOP) has 276 pages! Training days are long and physically demanding, and these documents are dense. You’d be helping yourself out a lot if you familiarized yourself with them in advance. You can get both of these documents from the IRATA website under publications, and they will serve you well in training as well out in the field when tricky situations or adverse conditions arise, always revert back to these documents, they are the bible's of the IRATA system of Rope Access.

Additional resources to check out:

TACS 6.2.1 for the source material for this blog.

ICOP Part 2, 2.6.2 for the requirements for supervision by a Level 3 rope access safety supervisor.

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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: