IRATA training cost: Race to the bottom

Recommendation: Act upon or Ignore?

In this small article I’ll look to touch upon What makes an expert, Who deems a person an expert and the pathway that may be taken to reach the godly guru status! It will hopefully raise some questions and promote conversation. We see it all the time, "Being EXPERTS in Rope Access" or "Our EXPERT team of Rope Access technicians". but who decides whether they are actually an expert? Are they misconstruing the word expert? or are they self proclaiming? Expertise is what separates the amateur from the true master in almost any field. While it might seem easy to point out who is and is not an expert, agreeing on a definition of expertise is not always so easy. Is it about how much you know? Is it about being able to perform an action well? And at what point does a person move from being merely good at something to being a bonafide expert? Definition: expert a person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area. or having or involving a great deal of knowledge or skill in a particular area. So from the above definitions we can see that to be defined as an “expert”, You have to be very knowledgeable and skilful in a particular area. But who determines whether you have enough knowledge and skill? Who decides who is an expert? Clients and their perception? Peers? An Assessor? An Auditor? Self proclaimed? Is that enough to award the accolade of expert? Some argue that expertise comes from lived experience and not by getting a 'piece of paper', We need to be careful with the experience argument, I've seen it first hand, He's an IRATA Level 3 with 25 years experience as a supervisor. Unfortunately he's been doing it wrong for 25 years! The guy that never made it to Level 3, yet has taken on the role of Technical Authority Or the ones that have a very narrow spectrum of work experience or in some instances no work experience at all (ie an instructor that has never worked on a work site). Researchers have tried to investigate how long it really takes to become an expert in any given field. They have sought to determine how much time someone would have to devote to the study and practice of a subject to be considered an expert. The ??,??? Hour Rule One belief is that the key to becoming an expert is to devote at least 10,000 hours to the study and practice of a subject. This idea is based on a 1993 study in which researchers found that the most accomplished violinists at a music academy had spent an average of 10,000 hours practicing their instrument. Skilled Isn't the Same As Expert Some suggest that it is sometimes around the 20,000- to 25,000-hour mark that people truly become experts or masters of a skill or subject. Some Skills Take Longer to Acquire Would you call an IRATA level 3 an expert? Does this depend on years of experience? Let us look at the path a rope access technician will take in the IRATA Training, Assessment and Certification Scheme. (Figure 1 – Flowchart showing qualification process Pg 8 TACS) To take your IRATA Level 1 the requirements are: minimum age of 18 years; no previous experience required; has an aptitude for working at height. Minimum 4-days training course 1-day independent assessment Minimum 12 months experience and 1000 working hours logged to be allegeable to take the Level 2. Again there is minimum 4-days training course in rope access, rigging and rescue. 1–day independent assessment. Minimum 12 months experience and 1000 working hours logged, to be allegeable to take the Level 3. Once again minimum 4-days training course in advanced rope access techniques, 1-day independent assessment So at the end that 18 year old is now a 20 year Level 3 Rope Access Supervisor. 2000 hours, Expert? or was skilled enough to learn a succession of manoeuvres and techniques to pass a one day assessment? Does this need to be looked at? Should you have the ability to become a supervisor at the age of 20? Should it be that for levels 1 and 2 you have to complete the full term of the ticket validity (3 years) thus having built up minimum 6 years of experience. (Please be advised this does not include any extra CPD that the technician may of completed) Something else I have witnessed of late is where companies and individuals have been coming out quite publicly on social media platforms with false facts and information, trying to give off this aura of expertise when really all they are doing is “over claiming”. The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias (deviation from the norm) whereby people with limited knowledge or competence in a given intellectual or social domain, in this case Rope Access, greatly overestimate their own knowledge or competence. There has been new research that reveals that the more people think they know about a topic in general, the more likely they are to allege knowledge of completely made-up information and false facts, a phenomenon known as “over-claiming”. Over claiming can be dangerous to both the individual, third parties and to company reputations, especially if what they are saying proves to be false. It seems sometimes to be financially driven where coming out with made up facts and techniques or just labelling themselves as experts within the field to win work or impress clients is part of the sales method. “Find your level” (To reach one's level of proficiency, comfort, or competency in a particular area.) So how to become an expert? The bit that all you wanna be experts have been waiting for! Theres no one answer to this question I’m afraid. So many different studies have tried to answer this question, whether it be the amount of hours practiced, IQ of the individual, natural talent, experience gather over time. I believe it is a fusion of disparate elements, a whole mix of different things that come together. If someone asked me how to become an expert I would only be able to give them a list of things to do that will possibility set them on the right pathway. Learn, Do, Appreciate, Share, Respect and Achieve. I will leave you with a quote from a friend of mine, who sums it with:  “The thing to do is never consider yourself an expert, that way you will aspire to be one and you will never stop learning from others”.

How long does competence last?

A while ago I wrote a post asking for peoples views and opinions on the Rope Access industry. The general consensus was that things need to change. That is not to say that there were parties that feel that everything is fine how it is. And it possibly is in certain companies and how individuals work. The Rope Access Industry is a microcosm where we find the good, the bad and the damn right dumb! I was interested to see if people shared common views and opinions, starting from being deemed "competent" to the working practices of their own company or employer. Things like; Is the course too short? Does the course not cover enough? is it too cheap? Should it be similar to an NVQ? Should there be a Level 4? Should more information be available to/and should a greater appreciation be shown by clients? Should there be third party auditors for all rope access works whether association members or not? Should there be a rating system for training centres? Should Instructors and Assessors have formal teaching and assessing qualifications? Will IRATA's RAMRASS (if it ever comes to fruition) help in ensure works carried out are done both safely and compliantly? I think it will raise awareness of the short fallings of some Levels 3's in regards to health and safety knowledge and supervisory skills. We all await eagerly for more information in regards of cost and time frames for this scheme. Since writing the draft version of this I have embarked on a new chapter. I am currently working towards my IRATA instructor ticket. A big thank you to Iain and Mike at Belay Rope Access Ltd down in Newhaven, East Sussex, UK for giving me a fantastic opportunity. (https://belayropeaccess.co.uk) This has given me a whole new appreciation for another side of Rope Access that not every technician will see. The way in which different people learn in different ways, The difference teaching styles can have on learning outcomes. It has also shown that there are many correct/safe ways to complete a task/technique or manoeuvre but more shocking to myself is when technicians turn up having been trained else where and have been shown the wrong/unsafe ways or being at a level that is above that of their actual competency. A question that I often ask myself after seeing posts on social media is why does it seem many have a "course/assessment" way of doing things that seems to get put away when it comes to day to day working practices? I have mentioned in a previous article Negligence? Incompetence? Ineptitude? Ignorance? These are the words I would use to describe the companies and individuals that consistently fail to act in a safe manner. But I believe there is another word.... .Laziness. Laziness may reflect a lack of self-esteem, a lack of positive recognition by others, a lack of discipline stemming from low self-confidence, or a lack of interest in the activity or belief in its efficacy. Laziness may manifest as procrastination or vacillation. In other words not being able to complete the task safely because of an inability to choose the correct method or fearing failure to complete (ie not being paid). How many people can relate to "do the job or leave it and not get paid" So they just rig to something that isn't actually suitable. Please feel free to make contact with me with your views and comments, So starting with training: Course Length & Cost Is at least 30 hours training over a minimum of 4 days enough? Is that enough time to get a novice to a level of "competency"? Is it enough time to take a Level 2 up to a level of "competency" to become a Level 3? In my opinion this is totally dependent on the individual and whether the instructor has employed the correct teach/learn strategy. Sure some new Level 1's get it by Tuesday, You can see they have grasped the information from the demos and can execute accordingly. Other naturally will take longer and some will find that it just isn't for them. Competent: having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully. Everyone likes a bargain! Myself included. But cheap doesn't mean value for money. Could it be that there is an abundance of poor practice because the course is cheap? is it creating the adage "dopes on ropes"? I have recently seen courses for £400.00 plus VAT, Does this attract the wrong type of person to the industry? What are the trainers/instructors being paid? Compare this to a ISO/BS Rope Access course (which ultimately is aimed at technicians operating in more limited scopes of work) where the price ranges from £690.00 to £864.00 plus VAT. Are we looking for a ticket/certificate that is just an easy pass, done in the shortest amount of time or are we looking for something that is revered and seen as a real achievement. A sign of quality! Should a revalidation cost the same as an upgrade? Everyone will have their own take on this one. If you are a Level 3 rope access supervisor and you require 4 days training before being assessed are you really a competent Level 3? Should you be completing rescue training and other CPD (Continuing Professional Development) between revalidation, in my opinion yes you should! I think it would be food for thought to may be look at offering assessment only for competent professionals. Training centre rating: Not all centres are equal! I've been to a few centres over the years and I can say with confidence that not all centres are equal! Again everyone is different and will no doubt have their own opinion. For me I want to be taught something new when I go on a course. I don't want to be left alone with trainers saying "Oh you know what you are doing, just practice what you want and then you can leave at 2pm". Especially if you are paying full course fees. Does what the training centre looks like matter? In my opinion "Yes, most definitely". If the centre you are training at only has one area where a rebelay/re-anchor can be rigged are you fully able to understand when and where to use it? Same could be said for single and double deviations, rope to rope etc Training centres that have a number of areas where manoeuvres and rigging can be attempted and completed will ultimately add to the competence level of the individual. Again this goes hand in hand with the imagination and competency of the instructor/trainer. IRATA Level 4..... So in 2017 IRATA released some news that they were developing a Rope Access Manager /Rope Access Safety Supervisor Course (aka RAMRASS). Since then we had an update in 2018 and then again in 2019. But since then nothing. Is it dead in the water?? Ive had the discussion with a few people now, should there not necessarily be a level 4 but should the Level 3 be split? So you can have an IRATA Level 3 Rope Access technician and then you have an IRATA Level 3 Rope Access Safety Supervisor. Whats the difference? Well before I answer that please tell me, Does 4 days training make a Level 2 with 1000 hours at that level competent to lead a team? Again depends on the individual but I would hazard a guess a lot of the individuals would have no man management experience, no team management experience, little to no heath and safety awareness etc etc So back to the level 3 tech and level 3 supervisor, The idea.... You level up from Level 2 to 3, well done, you now spend minimum 3 years at level 3 technician where you would attend CPD though-out the validity of the ticket. These would encompass training like heath and safety awareness, team management, Hazard identification, Risk Assessments, advanced rescue, first aid, rope protection, PPE inspection, LOLER etc To gain Level 3 Safety Supervisor status you will have completed the above and have a annual 2 day assessment. One class room based and the second day practical. Just an idea. So where are we going? Its not all doom and gloom! Like I said at the start of this the Rope Access industry is a microcosm where we have the good, the bad and the damn right dumb. There is a lot of good work that goes on by fantastic individuals and companies, most of this goes unnoticed as it may not end up on social media platforms. Some say I have an obsession with Rope Access, immersed in it, infatuated, some say its just sad! But when I see Rope Access being done well, I congratulate them, share their post, it's something to celebrate and promote. I'm not afraid to like or share another individuals or companies post. Which I might add seems to be rare in the industry. In my opinion we need to promote these individuals and companies more, showing the correct way to work safely at height. Then there's the bad, The individuals and companies that are repeat offenders! IRATA members and non members who continually ignore safety. We know who they are as they seem proud to post their negligence and ignorance all over social media. Perhaps they even fall into the next category. The damn right dumb....... Well they are out there! Those that seem totally oblivious that what they are doing could result in fatality or life changing injuries. The last two is ultimately what spurred me on into getting into training, the hope to make a difference and up the competency of rope access technicians. Well that's it for now, I hope it hasn't bored you too much. This an article to promote discussion and ideas, please respect other peoples opinions and ideas, even if they differ from your own. 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To listen click the logo above or here. I had the opportunity to chat with Mikey Stevens from the Rope Access & Climbing Podcast on the subject of Rope Protection. Thank you to Mikey and his team for this opportunity. Notes from show: Hello and welcome back to The Rope Access and Climbing Podcast. Today I'm chatting with James Hollingsworth about a post he made on Linked In around the same time I posted about rope protection on Acceptable or NOT acceptable. (Nov 1/2020) In this hour-long episode, we will be diving into the facts about the subject and what IRATA and SPRAT state, how we got to this point, standards, and even cover several soft and hard rope protectors. There is no, one rope protector that does it all. But there are some that are better than others. Please note this is a ROPE ACCESS Only subject we are not talking about other industries like fire or arborist work. Also, we are just two guys from different parts of the world dealing with the same issues. So stay tuned. So please make sure to chime in, in the comments I would love to see what you have to say about the setups. *Disclaimer* Just because I say something is acceptable or not doesn't mean you can just go and use these setups at work. Before doing anything please talk to your subject matter expert for the company you work. Also, make sure that any and all gear you use on the job is approved and has a proper risk assessment done on it. Make sure you undergo proper training and have the proper information before proceeding with anything. Thank you* So make sure to subscribe to our channel here for many more videos like this, also don't forget to follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram for all the latest updates. www.instagram.com/RopeAccess_and_Climbing Till next time, Mikey Stevenson

Click the logo above or here to listen to our chat about Rope Protection. Thanks to Leigh Greenwood and his team for this opportunity. Notes from show:  This week we sit down with James Hollingsworth from White Dragon Access and talk about how we protect our ropes, what is competency and how do we measure it. This chat took place a few months back after James had up published some great information on LinkedIn about Hazard identification and Risk Assessment https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hazard-identification-risk-assessment-james-hollingsworth/?trackingId=p9bHx%2BihH4xjRVtWCg%2Bs%2FQ%3D%3D James has added more publications since we had a chat, have a look at his LinkedIn profile for his latest information We also have a chat about High-Q UK's, ISOH course for rope access managers and technicians. https://www.high-q.co.uk/iosh-rope-access-training/

An assessment should be carried out before each job to select the most appropriate equipment to be used. (IRATA ICoP 2.7.1.1) How many times have we just ordered a piece of kit, that we have never used or had any experience with? Do we read the instructions? Do we get it inspected? Hopefully this will cast some light on the do's and don'ts. So as a start we have to know the laws and regulations, Again as with the other articles I didn't want it to be a bombardment of quotes from regulation documents. But we have to know the facts. I have condensed a lot of it down and put where to find the information if you want to delve more into it. So no doubt you have heard of LOLER What is LOLER? Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. This includes all businesses and organisations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether owned by them or not. In most cases, lifting equipment is also work equipment so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) will also apply (including inspection and maintenance ). All lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. LOLER also requires that all equipment used for lifting is fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and, in many cases, subject to statutory periodic ' thorough examination '. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to both the person responsible for the equipment and the relevant enforcing authority. Lifting equipment includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads (including persons), including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. So in our case, as Rope Access technicians, Ropes, Harnesses, Karabiners and connectors, Slings and Strops etc all fall under LOLER. H ow do we select of equipment? So how do you select the equipment you use? research? prior experience? recommendation? or are you just given a kit or equipment to use? There should be an assessment before each job is carried out to find the most appropriate equipment to be used. The assessment should also pay special attention to the probability and consequences of misuse of equipment, taking into account any known incidents, e.g. as detailed in IRATA International safety bulletins. The selection and purchase of equipment should be carried out by, or approved by, a competent person, who has sufficient knowledge of the technical specifications required (IRATA 2.7.1.1) The ICOP goes into the legal requirements and the standards that equipment should conform, I won't list all the EN numbers for all the kit but for anyone that is interested the information can be found on page 21 of the ICOP and Annex C. If you are using a piece of Rope Access equipment for the first time you must: read and understand all the instructions for use. Get specific training in its proper use (You can record this within your log book) Become acquainted with its capabilities and limitations. Understand and accept the risks involved. So if you come across a piece of equipment you are unfamiliar with, don't be afraid to say so, There is no shame in not knowing something, the shame comes from not asking. If you have a competent Level 3 or equivalent and they are familiar themselves with said piece of kit, get them to run through the safe operation of it. This should be noted in the Toolbox Talk that the device has been fully explained and this should be signed to say you are happy with the use and instruction. W here to purchase? So you may or may not be involved in the purchase of equipment. As previously stated the selection and purchase of equipment should be carried out by, or approved by, a competent person, who has sufficient knowledge of the technical specifications required. Now as I have said in previous articles, I live in the real world, I know there are individuals out there that want to buy kit for the cheapest price possible or pick up second had stuff. Reality is you want to be using a reputable retailer/supplier of Rope Access equipment. Don't be tempted to buy off a bidding site or a social media market place. At the end of the day this is equipment that you are entrusting yours or someone else's life to. I personally use Abaris, the link is above. Will and the guys have always got what we need and if they don't they are quick to source. I do use other suppliers but I'd say 85% of equipment I get from Abaris. So with the equipment comes the manufacturers instructions, sales invoice and certificate of conformity (Keep these!). Ideally you want to purchase equipment that has a unique serial number. This will aid in cross referencing with respective documentation ( Traceability ). There is more information to be found on this in the IRATA ICOP 2.8.1 and ISO-22846 6.5.1 As I have said above getting kit with unique serial numbers makes life a bit easier. (For example some karabiners come with a batch number rather than a individual serial number) If for whatever your reason go for karabiners with batch numbers, I would recommend tough tags. These are tags that you can have printed with your own serial numbers and other information. I have been impressed at their longevity on kit that has been worked hard. Periodic Thorough Examinations We all get told this on our IRATA and BS7985/ISO22846 courses, LOLER actually word it slightly differently to that of IRATA. But the three kinds of inspection or examination we will hopefully know about are: Pre Use Check - consists of a visual and tactile inspection, which should be carried out before first use each day Detailed Inspection or "6 monthly" - This is the formal thorough inspection of the equipment carried out by a competent person. (We'll go into competency shortly) Interim Inspection - So I always remember IRATA's wording for this one, its an inspection of your kit after arduous or exceptional events, example of this would be you have been using a chemical, brick cleaner or used it in a incinerator when it was very dusty or gritty. So do you undertake a pre use check? Do you get your kit checked by a competent person every 6 months? Do you have a interim inspection done after arduous or exceptional use? So who's competent to inspect your kit? For Pre use checks, As qualified Rope access technicians we should all be comfortable in what we are looking at and what to look out for. There is no need to record pre use checks (unless a defect is found or it is your employing companies policy to do so). For the undertaking of a detailed (6 monthly) or interim inspection you have to be a competent person. The term 'competent person' is not defined in law but the LOLER Approved Code of Practice and guidance (paragraph 294 on competent persons) states that: 'You should ensure that the person carrying out a thorough examination has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment.' So can you inspect your own equipment? IRATA says "2.10.1.5 It is essential that the person carrying out a detailed or interim inspection has the authority to discard equipment and is sufficiently competent, independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made." But they also say that " A competent person may exist within a rope access company." LOLER 1998 says " The person must be independent from the employer’s line management. The competent person can be in-house or from an external organisation such as an insurance company." I think the important thing is to be professional , Do you really want to pass a piece of equipment that could jeopardise yours or others safety? Thats not just you inspecting your own kit, Do you inspect others kit? As LOLER says you should have appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the equipment to be examined. How should equipment information be recorded? If you are the competent person in charge of equipment and inspection then you will probably be aware of the different ways you can record all the information of the equipment. These vary from a simple excel spreadsheet to PPE management software.  So the simplest way is an excel spread sheet, It can be a bit of a laborious task to start with but once you have created your database it is easy to update accordingly. If you are looking at PPE management software, then you may want to look at Papertrail. They have developed a cloud based system which allows hassle free record keeping and has a good notification system where it will alert you when a piece of equipment is due for inspection. More details can be found on their website. So I hope this has been a useful read, I hope if you can take anything from this it will be to become more professional and safer in your approach towards working.

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

Competence in Rope Ac  cess