IRATA Rope Access Training

IRATA is the world’s leading authority in rope access and their qualifications are recognised world wide. IRATA’s training scheme and codes of practice have been developed for over 30 years and are the chosen means of access for most heavy industry including oil and gas, iron ore, construction, civil engineering, built and natural environment to name a few. Most major companies in the world require their personnel to be trained and assessed under the IRATA scheme to perform rope access works.

Most importantly, with strict training and working guidelines, IRATA delivers a safe working record year after year. IRATA is committed to ongoing development in this area to ensure that its member companies and technicians remain current and safe in their ever evolving working environments.

Please see our cancellation and booking policy here

Rope access is a physically demanding job. Whether you are a male or female, candidates and technicians should have adequate levels of fitness that ensure they have the physical ability to perform rope access tasks expected in terms of strength, agility and coordination. Rope access is often performed in extreme conditions so you will need to be able to withstand the stresses of the working environment in the terms of heat, cold and other inclement weather.

If you are being treated with medication, you MUST obtain a signed doctor’s note which states that your condition or treatment will not prevent you from performing rope access works. This must be presented to Tasman Rope Access prior to training commencement. Where you fail to do this, Tasman Rope Access reserves the right to refuse training services until the note is obtained.

Rope access works do require a certain amount of agility, strength and coordination so ensure that the clothing you wear allows you to move freely but at the same time, will not be caught up in your equipment.

Your footwear should be non-slip and it is a health and safety requirement that you attend our facility in close-toed shoes or boots. We recommend that, if you have work boots, you wear these as it will give you an opportunity to gain experience in the footwear you will likely wear on a work site.

Please don’t wear short shorts, a skirt or kilt! 😊

No. If you don’t have an industry helmet, we can supply you with one for your training and assessment. For hygiene reasons, we do recommend that you bring a headsock with you if you are not supplying your own helmet.

If you wish to supply your own helmet, please ensure it is within 10 years of manufacture as per textile standards and is fit for purpose (ie chin strap, good fit, no impaired vision, able to withstand side, frontal, rear and crown shock). If you are unsure whether a helmet is fit for purpose, please bring it to your first day of training and our experienced instructors will advise you accordingly.

• If you already have a rope access helmet, we recommend that you bring that and our experienced instructors will assess it and ensure it is fit for task.
• Clothing should allow you to move freely but not be so loose it gets caught in equipment
• Close toed shoes that have good grip. If you already have work boots you use onsite, we recommend that you wear them to get used to climbing in them.
• Government issued photographic identification (eg driver’s license, passport or proof of age card)
• Bring a water bottle. Rope access training is strenuous work so it will use a lot of energy and you will sweat. It is imperative that you fuel your body and keep it hydrated during your training process. There are cafés within walking distance. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available with a light morning tea/lunch to be provided during the course.

For rope access candidates who are recertifying, upgrading or undertaking a refresher course, you MUST bring your logbook. Your logbook must be up to date and be presented to one of our instructors prior to commencement of training.

Rope access is intrinsically high risk. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that the candidate is able to demonstrate the requisite tasks in a safe manner, in accordance with the IRATA TACS. This ensures that you have the skills and presence of mind to exercise safe working practices in the workplace for the well being of you, your workmates and other site personnel.

All assessments are two part: practical and written.

There are two possible outcomes of assessment: pass or fail. To pass, the candidate shall successfully complete all the required elements of the syllabus at the relevant level. To fail, the candidate will have committed one major discrepancy or three minor discrepancies.

It is a requirement of IRATA that the Assessor be independent of the candidate, the candidate’s employer and the organization providing the employment.

If you fail your assessment, at your desired level, there are two possible outcomes:

1. Reassessment – this must take place within 60 days of the original assessment otherwise you will be required to attend a further training course in full. You must present a copy of the previous assessment at the time of reassessment.
2. The Assessor may specify that more training is required. If this is recommended, it must be completed prior to reassessment

For further clarification regarding assessment, reassessment and certification validity for Level 2 and 3 see TACS ss 4.5 – 4.10

Technicians who have not been using rope access techniques for 6 months must undergo a refresher course.

This must be done in an official training facility by a Level 3 (minimum standard), ensuring the technician has the requisite skills for their certification level.

The training will be entered into the technician’s logbook. Your logbook must be up to date and be presented to one of our instructors prior to commencement of training.

Every level is certified for three years. After this point, without revalidation, technicians are no longer certified to carry out rope access works.

IRATA assessments are required every three years, at all levels, following a minimum of four days training. It is recommended that technicians undergo this training and assessment in the 180 days prior to the expiry of their current certificate.

Level 1 technicians will be required to complete the minimum four day training course and assessment and will not perform rope access works from the time of expiry until a successful reassessment is completed.

If you are Level 2 or 3 who is undertaking assessment after the expiry of your previous certification, or, prior to expiry(any level), you believe you may fail to revalidate/upgrade due to medical reasons, please contact us for guidance. Further information can be found in the Procedures for IRATA Certification

Rope access technicians are in high demand across a plethora of industries. We suggest you chat to our friendly trainers and other course participants while you are here to give you a real world guide into what it is like to work across different industries. Most ‘ropies’ have a favoured sector they work in but may work across a few in order to vary their experience and improve their rope access skills. Rope access personnel often have complimentary trades or skills according to their sector. We suggest you peruse career advertising websites (eg Seek) to have a look at positions that are being advertised and their additional requirements, if any.