Rope Access Technician Jobs & Careers
Rope access is an industry that requires technicians to work safely at extreme heights or to access difficult to reach places, fast. The jobs require extensive training in a number of different techniques that can be adapted to meet the needs of various industries.
A rope access technician’s job may involve such tasks as rigging off a roof or abseiling the leg of an oil rig or wind turbine jacket. If you’re afraid of heights, this would not be a career you’d want to get involved with. The job requires you to reach areas that seem inaccessible, and you’ll usually enter through a roof hatch or from another rigging area where a rope access specialist can rig the dual lines to work from.
Safety is the number one concern in training a rope access technician, and certification for rope access technicians is provided by the IRATA.
What is Irata?
IRATA is an acronym for the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, that was formed in the UK in the late 1980’s, to solve maintenance challenges in the offshore oil and gas industry. Its formation was the result of an initiative of a number of leading companies, who had begun to use industrial rope access techniques, to provide a safe working environment for the industry.
Why Choose a Rope Access Technician Career?
There are many reasons you may want to pursue a career as a rope access technician:
Location
These jobs are not located at an office around the corner, but can require the technician to travel to many different locations. In this job you could be traveling to some glamorous locations and some not so glamorous, as many of the job sites are in remote areas.
Salary
Rates and salaries in this industry vary depending on the technician’s experience, level of expertise, duties, and the company they work for. These workers start as Level 1 Technicians and work their way up to Level 3. The current average rope access technician salary in the UK is £54,600 per year. Most entry level positions in this industry start at around £31,000 annually for a Level 1 technician.
Overtime
Because of the nature of the various job assignments in this industry, overtime may become a major part of your annual compensation. Many of these job assignments require the technicians to work up to 12 hours per day.
How Do I Become a Rope Access Technician?
If you decide that you’d like to pursue this career, you’ll need to get the right qualifications and skills. Qualifications involve completing dedicated working at height training courses. Rope access technicians go through 3 levels of rigorous training to become IRATA certified. The training courses are designed to provide workers with the training, skills, and knowledge required to carry out manoeuvres and rescue procedures in line with stringent industry and safety requirements. Each part of the training varies depending on the level of skill needed for one to progress in their career. The courses run for five days, with an assessment at the end of the course to test retention.
Why Choose a Rope Access Technician Career?
Offshore Industries
Many rope access jobs are available in the offshore industries. To work offshore requires the IRATA certification but also may involve training in sea survival, firefighting, manual handling, first aid, helicopter underwater escape training and others.
Geotechnical Industries
Typically positioned on cliffs, along steep roadsides, deep within caves, or other unreachable natural structures, rope access jobs can have you working anywhere in the world. Tasks in this industry include stabilising structures, preventing rock falls, and helping to prevent mass erosion.
Man-made Structures
These jobs include working on bridges, radio masts, dams, and other structures. Common tasks could be painting, cleaning, updating, or repairing such structures.
Energy Sector
Rope access technicians are in demand for working on wind farms, power stations, and utility poles, performing surveillance, upkeep, and repair of components involved in providing the steady flow of energy to consumers and businesses worldwide.
Summary
A career as a rope access technician can be exciting, rewarding, financially attractive, and a little bit scary! If you think you would like to pursue this career, you can start by contacting Hightech Industrial Access.
Contact Hightech Industrial Access today
With over 30 years of experience, Hightech Industrial Access has provided the highest quality industrial site service and working at height services in the building, petro-chemical, shipyard, and renewable energy sectors. We provide working at height and rope access training in our state-of-the-art new venue situation in Darlington, County Durham, in the North East of England. We also have an extensive range of plant equipment for hire. We strive to be the leaders in providing the highest quality industrial access solutions. If you’d like to know more about the services we offer, please contact us, or call us at 01325 487085.