Case Study:Ultimate Rope Access Safety Equipment Testing Case Study

Introduction

We complete safety testing for abseiling equipment all over London. Our teams know exactly what to look for thanks to the years of experience, training and the fact they use this equipment every day! This Case Study is a collection of some properties we provide regular work at height safety equipment testing in central London.

Challenge

When testing safety equipment, maintaining proper documentation is absolutely vital. Having a paper trail of when, how and by whom the inspections were completed, allows abseiling teams to use equipment with confidence. If this is not maintained then it will cause significant delays to planned works.

During one of our inspections, we noted there was limited documentation of the installation methods for some of the eyebolts at this property. In order to accurately test the safety of the equipment, we need to know how it was installed. As there was no proper record of this information, our team had to remove a segment of the roof asphalt membrane to reveal the fixings of the eyebolt installation. We then recorded details of this and created a photographic document noting how the bolt was installed to ensure a suitable record is held for future reference. This is in line with BS 7883:2019, which covers anchor systems designed to keep people working at height adequately protected. 

Once the roof was closed up and resealed, the testing was complete and certificates were supplied to the client. The building management team are now equipped with all the necessary documents and certificates regarding the safety system testing of their property.

Logistics

As we regularly work on properties in central London, we always strive to provide flexibility for our clients. Occasionally commercial properties like offices are closed over the weekend, which means this is the most convenient time for our clients. At this collection of offices in Fitzrovia, we completed rope access equipment safety testing, out of hours so as to not disturb the residents of the office spaces.

The safety system we were testing at this property was found at the top of an 8 storey atrium. Some eyebolts were located around the edge of the 10 meter wide atrium, while others were in the center, above the 8 storey space below. These central eyebolts required our rope access technicians to test as they went, working towards the central eyebolts, and certifying their safety before attaching their harnesses to two independent connection points. We continued the inspection by assessing the fixings, components, and substrate to check for any defects before tightening all the bolts with a torque wrench.

Spectrum's unique set of skills allowed us to keep our team to two men, both highly trained in rope access and safety testing. This meant we did not need to hire or rely upon a MEWP to access the abseil system, which would have lengthened the timescale of this project and increased the budget. 

‘Our team could provide both the access method and the testing solution in one visit, which kept costs to a minimum for our client.’

Our Solution

We often work the safety testing schedule into the other maintenance work we provide for each property. This makes the organisation and scheduling a lot easier for property developers and means we are completing these checks regularly and within the recommended time frame to maintain safe practices for at-height work.

Should the event happen whereby we are on site and deem the safety equipment unsafe our teams are able to set up portable anchorage to complete the job. This is always appreciated by clients, as it isn’t ideal to have to wait for the eyebolt to be repaired/replaced before work can begin or be finished.

The Project

Each of these properties has to have eyebolts and safety equipment testing done at least once a year, or every 6 months if Class A, to comply with LOLER regulations.

We begin by gaining access to the site via the designated internal route, usually stairs and roof hatches.

If the eyebolts are at a location less than 2 meters away from the free edge, our team will clip into a fall restraint safety tether before proceeding to the first area of testing. They will then complete a visual inspection of the eyebolts and the surrounding area. They will look for:

• Corrosion of the metal eyebolt
• Cracks, wear or distortion
• Defects to the fixtures or fittings
• Signs of misuse in or around the area

The safety system is then prepped for load testing. It is recommended that fall arrest eyebolts are tested annually to 6kN (equivalent to 600kg, far more weight than the eyebolt is likely to ever bear!), and the load test is sustained for at least 15 seconds.

The appropriately trained technician will record the details of the load testing and tag the equipment with a unique reference number and appropriate information such as date, name of technician and testing company.

In the event the equipment does not pass, it is deemed unusable, tagged as such and details are recorded in the report we supply the client with. We provide extensive photographs showing the damage/reason for failure and provide advisory notes on how to remedy the situation.

The Result

After completing the eyebolt and safety equipment testing, if all areas have been deemed safe, the equipment is safe to be used. 

Spectrum provides a full range of external maintenance services by rope access and we often co-ordinate safety system checks to align with other services to save our clients time and money.

Once rope access safety tests are completed, the system will be compliant with LOLER health and safety standards for rope access, as well as the relevant British Standards. Here is an overview of our safety testing and inspection service:

• We provide a pre-site basement to establish access points such as ladders, stairs and roof hatches.
• Review the operation manuals and previous documentation
• Move chronologically through the system to inspect and load test all equipment
• After testing and inspection, the safety equipment is tagged and certified with LOLER compliance regulations
• The client is provided with certifications and a photographic report

Offering a two-in-one service meant we significantly reduced costs for the client and could complete the job with two expert rope technicians on site instead of the previous contractors who needed four.

If you have a property in London that requires abseil testing or inspection, whether it’s eye bolt testing or a rail system, we can help. Contact us today for a free quote.