Descender incident – near miss - failure to check catch on side plate.

For further information click here

December 2009

Severed Working Line

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November 2009

IRATA report on cracked bobbins on Petzl stop descender

IRATA have published a safety bulletin, after being informed that 3 Petzl Stop descenders have been
inspected and cracks found on the upper pulley. Click here

October 2009

IRATA information on use of the shunt

The Petzl shunt is probably the most widely used back-up device used in rope access.
The instructions issued with a new shunt indicate a cross through use with a lanyard, which is the normal method of use in rope access.

The attached statement from Petzl explains the apparent contradiction and passes responsibility for use as a back-up device to those involved in selection of equipment and to the users. Petzl also makes specific reference to loads greater than one person. 

The reader is directed to Shunt Guidance January 2008 below , which note that a shunt used in the regular way (ie. slack back-up lanyard/ approx fall factor 1) is most likely to slip many metres when used with a two person load if there were a problem with the working line or descender.

For Petzl Statement on use of the shunt in professional rope access work, 25.05.2009  please Click here

August 2009

General UK Legislative Requirements

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August 2009

Snagged Rope Incident

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August 2009

Rock Stabilisation Incident

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August 2009

Dangerous Knots

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January 2008

How to avoid dropping back-up

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December 2008

Cow's Tail Caught

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November 2008

Grit Blasting Incident

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October 2008

Window Cleaning Incident

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October 2008

Grit Blasting Incident

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October 2008

PERIODIC EXAMINATION OF FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR WORK AT HEIGHT HORIZONTAL, Flexible Anchor Lines - EN795 Class ‘C’

Please note the news item below prepared by:
Work at height safety association http://www.wahsa.co.uk/content/view/24/3/

For further information please Click here

August 2008

Observations on a rope access incident reported issued by the Australian Rope Access Association.

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Gold Coat Accident Final Report

August 2008

'TESTS ON BACKUP SYSTEMS UNDER RESCUE LOADS TO REPLICATE RISKS ENCOUNTERED DURING ROUTINE TRAINING' were proposed by and carried out with equipment and facilities provided by Spanset Ltd, during an IRATA Assessors Workshop

The following advice is given even though the situation described below is highly unlikely to occur

SHUNT GUIDANCE

WARNING: If there were working rope failure during a two-person rescue, a shunt is likely to slip many metres if used in a regular way (ie. slack back-up lanyard/approx fall factor 1)

For users of ALL back-up devices [but particularly shunts] the following advice would be helpful: -

It is good practice at all times to minimise slack in the back-up lanyard, but especially during a two-person rescue. Keep the potential fall distance to an absolute minimum by having minimal slack in the back-up lanyard. [January 2008]

IRATA Work and Safety Report 08/01 - Summary of incidents reported on Form 021 2006/2007
Click here