How SGB-Cape use Rope Access in Offshore

Accredited provider of IRATA industrial rope access training courses

SGB Cape Offshore (Pty) Ltd is an accredited provider of IRATA industrial rope access training courses. IRATA is an acronym for the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, which was developed more than 25 years ago. Today, it is the chosen means of access for much of the work in the offshore oil and gas industry as well as a range of projects in construction, civil engineering, the built and natural environment and much more. Its success is based on thorough training and strict work guidelines that deliver an unrivalled safe working record year after year. The environmental, efficiency and economic benefits have resulted in growing international support for industrial rope access ahead of alternative means of access.

Where is rope access used?

Check out Where is Rope Access used to find out which industries make use of rope access technicians. SGB-Cape Rope Access have extensive experience in many industry sectors including construction, power, oil and gas, banner signage, industrial maintenance and telecommunications.

Rope access becomes a requirement for international oil and gas companies

Here we will dive into offshore, as IRATA began its life by providing companies such as SGB-Cape accreditation to provide teams to inspect, maintain, repair and renovate offshore platforms. This was an answer to the companies operating these rigs, who had found other means of access to be of limited use in the offshore environment, with their structures and machinery taking up too much of the limited space available; and at times prejudicing the whole safety regime of the rig, including emergency evacuation.

It was not long before the international oil and gas companies came to insist on IRATA systems being employed whenever rope access was used on their platforms and, today, such requirements are almost universal for this industry.

Rope access saves time and money

Discovering that workers on ropes were able to reach areas of the platform that it was impossible or, at best, very costly to get to by other access means, owners of these installations turned to IRATA member companies for ever more detailed and specialist work. Some of these tasks have involved ground-breaking procedures that have either substantially reduced the time required for the work to be completed, extended the life of the rig, or its parts, or enabled rigs to be altered or repaired without returning to shallow water.

Many offshore rope access technicians have specialist work-related qualifications relevant to inspection and maintenance.

Irata training

The IRATA Level 1 rope access training course is the entry-level operator qualification level. It’s aimed at individuals with little or zero previous in environments in which ropes and associated equipment are used to gain access to hard-to-reach or at-height locations in order to carry out work.

Find out more about industrial rope access training or to book your course.

Back to Articles on rope access

Useful links: Specialised rope access services/a>; IRATA training courses ; Irata level 1 training courses ; Irata level 2 training courses ; Irata level 3 training courses Why rope access?