Loads in Rope Access System when Working at Heights

Abstract

The statistics of injuries in Russian Federation put accidents in heightworks in the first place. Heightworks using rope access (RA) are considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety margin of RA anchors when used by specialists for increasing the safety of heightworks. The values of peak loads arising in the anchor during ascending using the two rope clamps technique and when descending using descender are determined. The empirical results of loads in the RA are presented to increase the competence of safety specialists when working at heights. The results showed that the loads in the RA can reach up to 544% of the load created by a specialist in a static position. The loads upon the point exceeded the worker's weight by 5.44 times due to the dynamic nature of the impact of the displacement technique. The values of peak forces at anchor points obtained when performing work using RA should be taken into account by high rise work safety specialists, when drawing up work and rescue plans, planning the method of performing work in rope access systems.