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21 February 2005 - HSE Fund Project for
Tree Climbing Rope Access or Work Positioning
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have funded a research
project for the "Determination of rope access and work positioning techniques
in arboriculture."
The requirement for the report was to provide information on the
selection of suitable rope systems for contractors within arboricultural work
upon completion of risk assessments which deemed rope access or work positioning
techniques as being applicable. The project was also to provide the
HSE Inspectors with internal guidance for the formulation of regulations.
The aim of the report is to provide information and guidance in
areas such as the following:
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The holding of workshops with experts and representatives within
the industry for consideration of current arboricultural best practice when
working at height.
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Providing further guidance on twin rope working/double
attachment appropriateness, with particular attention to the use of load bearing
supplementary/second anchor points.
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Informing the HSE to give practical guidance for inclusion into
the revised GTGCP and internal guidance for HSE Inspectors on the safety
standards expected in tree work.
Many considerations regarding the Working at Height Regulations
(WAHRs) and improvement of Best Working Practices have already been undertaken
by Lantra Awards and National Proficiency Test Council (NPTC). Their
Technical Standards Verifiers (TSVs) meet on an annual basis to standard set
issues in relation to arboricultural training and assessment.
Throughout the summer of 2004, a series of 12 regional "Update
and Standard Setting" meetings took place within the UK, run by the TSVs, where
all arboricultural Instructors and Assessors registered with Lantra and NPTC
were required to attend in order to remain registered.
The in-depth report can be accessed by clicking the following:
Determination of rope access and work positioning techniques in arboriculture
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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