When aid climbing, work positioning lanyards are used to suspend and assist the movement of a technician climbing either vertically (L2 and L3) or horizontally (all levels) along a structure.
To rescue a technician from an aid climb, you're going to need some extra equipment. As part of the rope access program's safety method statement, your supervising L3 SPRAT tech should have prepared an easily accessible pre-rigged kit with the extra equipment (and ropes) needed for this rescue.
Speed and efficiency is a definite priority with every rescue you perform. Once a tech becomes immobile in their harness, you only have 20 minutes before symptoms associated with suspension intolerance become dangerous. In other words, this will be a grab and go scenario.
During your SPRAT Evaluation L2 and *L3 techs (see below) will be asked to demonstrate competence rescuing a casualty from a horizontal aid climb on a main system, using a rope-to-rope transfer to transport them to a designated location -- likely a suspended platform.
For the purpose of this exercise, the casualty should be located between 20 and 50 cm below the lowest point of the anchorage system. The descenders used for the rope-to-rope transfer can be from your own or the casualty's harness.
As you execute this rescue, your SPRAT Evaluator will specifically be watching to ensure that you…
- Maintain two independent sources of attachment for both yourself and the casualty.
- Practice good casualty management.
You may be asked to perform this requirement on its own, but you'll most likely be given the option of pairing it with a vertical aid climb to reach the casualty, and using a method for retrieving ropes from a structural anchorage as part of your demonstration.
Please remember that if you're playing the role of 'casualty' to help a classmate demonstrate this maneuver, that you'll need to keep your legs moving to prevent the onset of symptoms associated with suspension intolerance.
We’ll go into further detail on all of the above during your training week.
*This is one of 15 manoeuvres on the L3 syllabus (coloured grey) that are primarily there for review. On assessment day L3 techs will be tested on only 50% of these items.
Most Common Discrepancies to Avoid:
- Going down to one point of attachment for yourself or the casualty during the transfer -- for example, forgetting to maintain the casualty's main connection point to their transfer descender.
- Transferring onto your ascender during the rope-to-rope transfer.
Additional resources to check out
8.12 of the SPRAT Evaluation Guidelines for the source material for this blog.
8.12 of the SPRAT Certification Requirements for a concise evaluation summary.
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This is part of an ongoing series, where we’re breaking down the SPRAT Syllabus and clarifying exactly what will be expected of you on your evaluation day. To continue exploring this series and learn more about SPRAT's Technician Evaluation Form, please click below:
