National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 22846‑2:2012.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee PH/5, Personal Fall Protection.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 March 2012.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 22846‑2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and equipment, Subcommittee SC 4, Personal equipment for protection against falls.

ISO 22846 consists of the following parts, under the general title Personal equipment for protection against falls — Rope access systems:

Part 1: Fundamental principles for a system of work
Part 2: Code of practice

Introduction

ISO 22846 (all parts) sets out important criteria for the application of rope access systems for industrial purposes.

ISO 22846‑1 sets out fundamental principles; this part of ISO 22846 expands on these, giving recommendations for planning and management, operative competence and responsibilities of personnel, supervision, the selection, use and care of equipment, and advice on how to implement a safe system of work.

Rope access is a method of working at height, typically using synthetic fibre kernmantel ropes and associated equipment, used to gain access to, be supported at, and as a means of egress from, a place of work.

The application of rope access methods are regarded as a complete system, in which planning, competence and suitable equipment are equally important. The malfunction or removal of any component in the system can weaken the operation or prevent the system from operating properly.

This part of ISO 22846 is intended for use by all persons concerned with the use of rope access, including operatives, specifiers, managers, rope access supervisors, purchasing personnel, trainers, clients and regulatory authorities. Users are reminded always to take into account the entire system and not just the component parts.

To ensure a rope access system operates correctly, at least the following factors are important:

system management and planning;
competence of the operatives and correct team composition;
equipment selection, use and maintenance;
proper organization and execution of working methods.

There can also be other issues to consider, depending upon the nature and location of the work, the competence and experience of operatives and possible local or regional legal requirements.

A failure or shortcoming in any of the above can render the entire system deficient.

1 Scope

This part of ISO 22846 provides recommendations and guidance on the use of rope access methods for work at height and expands on the fundamental principles given in ISO 22846‑1, in conjunction with which it is intended to be used. It is intended for use by employers, employees and self-employed persons who use rope access methods, by those commissioning rope access work and by rope access associations. This part of ISO 22846 is applicable to the use of rope access methods in any situation where ropes are used as the primary means of access, egress or support and as the primary means of protection against a fall, on both man-made and natural features.

This part of ISO 22846 is not intended to apply to the use of rope access methods for leisure activities, arboriculture, general steeplejack methods, emergency personal evacuation or to the use of rope rescue (line rescue) techniques by emergency services for rescue work or for rescue training. Nevertheless, individuals engaged in these and similar activities can benefit from the advice given in this part of ISO 22846.

2 Terms and definitions

3 General

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

4 Management

4.1 Underlying principles

4.2 Management systems

4.3 Planning

4.4 Hazard identification and risk assessment

4.5 Hazards specific to a rope access method or work task

4.6 Method statements

4.7 Operating process

4.8 Worksite classification

4.9 Supervision

4.10 Levels of rope access operative skills

4.11 Use of tools and equipment

4.12 Practices

4.13 Communications

4.14 Pre-work checking and checks at the start of each day

4.15 End of a shift

4.16 Termination of a job

4.17 Record keeping and review

4.18 Document availability

5 Personnel

5.1 Selection

5.2 Competence

5.3 Training and assessment

5.4 Experience

5.5 Competence levels

5.6 Rope access team size

6 Equipment

6.1 General

6.2 Limits of equipment use and compatibility

6.3 Standards and legal requirements

6.4 Specific criteria for the selection of rope access equipment

6.5 Equipment marking and traceability

6.6 Records of equipment usage

6.7 Inspection

6.8 Care and cleaning

6.9 Maintenance

6.10 Storage

6.11 Retiring equipment

6.12 Records

7 Working methods

7.1 General

7.2 Safety

7.3 Access system

7.4 Back-up system

7.5 Specific techniques commonly used in rope access (non-exhaustive)

7.6 Rigging and rope management

7.7 Rigging considerations

8 Emergency situations

8.1 General

8.2 Suspension intolerance (suspension trauma)

9 Welfare

9.1

9.2

Bibliography

BS ISO 22846-2:2012

Personal equipment for protection against falls. Rope access systems - Code of practice

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Mar 2012