Rope access for dam inspection and maintenance: The international perspective on safety

The infamous failure of the spillway gate at Folsom Dam and the widely publicized post-accident investigation by "climbing" engineers focused the spotlight on the rapidly evolving rope access industry in the United States. Dam owners are increasingly relying on engineers trained in rope access techniques to safely and efficiently complete thorough hands-on inspections of civil structures such as radial gates, penstocks, and spillways. The utility of rope access techniques extends easily to light installations and maintenance. These "high-angle" technicians are among a rapidly growing network of professionals that compose an industry with rigorous international standards and an enviable safety record. Most importantly they have proven that rope access delivers results unattainable by conventional means.

Rope Safety International has trained and outfitted some of the first rope-supported civil inspection teams in the U.S. including the CalTrans engineers that assisted in the Folsom fracture-critical inspection. Since then Rope Safety staff have helped build and maintain teams for many public and private organizations including California Dept. of Water Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, HDR Engineering, and URS Corp. We are actively working with organizations at the state, national, and agency level to standardize safety protocol for rope access.

In this paper, I will share these perspectives to answer the common questions, misconceptions, and challenges dam owners face when building their own rope access teams. The paper will outline the strengths and limitations of rope access teams, clarify the difference between rope access and traditional fall protection, share international safety statistics, and help dam owners negotiate the confusion regarding OSHA regulations and international safety standards. I will deliver a current state of the industry report and share my perspectives on the future roll of rope access in North America. 8 pp.