Delivering a minimal
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Industrial Rope Access Trade Association

IRATA provides a safe and efficient means of access to undertake a wide variety of tasks.

IRATA's principal aim is to ensure that work carried out by its members using industrial rope access techniques, is done in a safe and high quality manner.

IRATA's independently-audited accident reports demonstrate that its training and operational work delivers the safest means of working at height.

 

Latest News
Incident at York Minster - Reports
REPORTS ON INCIDENT AT YORK MINSTER

Report Update; 6th November - This incident involved a technician who had been trained to IRATA Level 1. He was employed by a non-IRATA company without the level of supervision required by the Association. We understand the technician involved returned to work the day following the incident.

Initial Report - As the sole global trade association in industrial rope access, IRATA International was concerned to hear of the fall of a rope access technician during the fitting of a large printed sheet in front a stain glass window in the Minster last week.  From its preliminary investigations various facts have emerged as described in the report which can be downloaded here.

IRATA GUIDELINES TO BE REPLACED
The highly regarded and much used IRATA Guidelines will soon be replaced by a new IRATA Code of Practice. The new document will reflect the global market place in which IRATA International trains and works and will specify the procedures required by the workplace and delivered by member companies of the Association wherever in the world they are based. As the Guidelines stimulated excellence and reliability, and raised work standards in countries not so used to regulation, so the new Code of Practice will continue to ensure safe working via industrial rope access delivered the IRATA way. The new document will be published at the end of this year.
FIRST AID MANAGMENT FOR HARNESS SUSPENSION
Following completion of an evidence based review of published medical literature on the effects of a fall triggering harness suspension, HSE confirms that no change should be made to the standard first aid guidance for the post recovery of a semi conscious or unconscious person in a horizontal position, even if the subject of prior harness suspension.
The sometimes quoted suggestion of recovery in a semi-recumbent or sitting position was considered to be without any sound evidence base and may prove dangerous through prolonging the lack of blood return to the brain. http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/harness.htm 
This information is likely to require a change to many company procedures and training manuals. It should also be drawn to the attention of sub- contract employees.