Course Content
The History of Rope Access: From Boatswain’s Chair to Modern Techniques
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Origins in Tall Ships — The Boatswain’s Chair
Section 1: Legal & Regulatory Framework
Quiz – Section 1: Legal & Regulatory Framework
Section 2: Rope Access Fundamentals
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The Fundamentals.
Section 2: Rope Access Fundamentals
Section 3: Site Risk Management
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Managing Risk in Rope Access
Section 3: Site Risk Management
Section 4: Understanding the Risk Matrix.
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Risk Matrix
Section 4: Risk Matrix
Section 5: Rescue & Emergency Planning
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Why Rescue Planning
Rescue & Emergency Planning
Section 6: Knots
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The History and Importance of Knots
Section 6: Knot Identification
Review: Rope Access Theory – Summary Overview
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Review
Final Exam
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Rope Access Theory – Final Exam
Appendix
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Appendix
Beginner Rope Access (BRAT) – Online Assessment

1. Rope Access Guidelines (Approved by MOL)

The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) provides guidelines for rope access work, emphasizing worker safety and compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Key aspects include training, supervision, equipment, and work planning, often referencing standards from the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) or the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT).

Here’s a breakdown of the main points:

Training and Competency:

  • The MOL recommends that employers provide workers with training in rope access through IRATA or SPRAT programs.
  • Workers certified under these programs are considered competent to perform rope access work and comply with the OHSA and relevant regulations
  • Other training programs may be acceptable if they demonstrate compliance with the OHSA’s requirement to “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker”.

Supervision:

  • All rope access work should be supervised by a competent and certified
  • A work team should consist of at least two technicians, one of whom is the

Equipment and Work Planning:

  • Employers must ensure workers are provided with the necessary equipment and instruction for their specific tasks.
  • A detailed on-site rope access work plan is required, including a Hazard Assessment or Job Safety Analysis and mitigation plan.
  • All rope access equipment, including lifelines and anchorages, must be appropriate for the task and used according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Specific Requirements:

  • Anchorages:

Anchorages for rope access must be independent of the supporting or suspension system and capable of supporting the intended load.

  • Vertical Lifelines:

When using vertical lifelines, they should be suspended separately from the work platform system, unless authorized by an engineer.

  • Suspended Access Equipment:

Employers must ensure that workers using suspended access equipment (e.g., boatswain’s chairs) have completed training.

  • Fall Protection:

Employers must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers from falls, especially when working at heights.

Compliance:

  • Employers must ensure compliance with the OHSA and applicable regulations, including providing proper training, supervision, and equipment.
  • Employers relying on training and certification methods other than those offered by IRATA or SPRAT must be able to demonstrate that their methods meet the OHSA’s requirements.

2. Key Regulations under O. Reg. 213/G1 (Construction Projects)

Ontario law requires comprehensive oversight of rope-access work — from pre-use planning and Ministry notification to specialized training, certified supervision, engineered design, and documented rescue procedures. All equipment must meet rigorous CSA/CEN standards and be installed per engineer-certified drawings.

Here’s an overview of all applicable regulations:

Section 138 s 138.1 – Training s Competent Person

  • Employers must train workers who use, inspect, or install suspended work platforms (includes rope access) and issue written proof of completion
  • Before first use, a competent worker (as designated by the employer) must be trained and responsible for installing and inspecting the system.
  • Section 141 – Roof Plans s Site-Specific Work Plans
  • Site-specific planning documents are required before using suspended access equipment

Section 141.5 – Documents Required

  • Employers must prepare:
    • Emergency rescue procedures
    • Risk assessment
    • Site-specific work plan

Section 148 – Fall Protection

  • Workers on boom-type elevating platforms or vehicle-mounted aerial devices must be attached to adequate anchorage via appropriate fall protection

Section 7.1 – Ministry Notification

  • Employers must notify the Ministry of Labour before placing any suspended access equipment into service

Technical Guidelines & Standards

  • “Technical Guideline for Suspended Access Equipment on Construction Projects”
  • Specifically addresses:
    • Definitions (e.g., fixed supports)
    • Requirement for generic installation drawings, sealed by a professional engineer
    • Design, installation, inspection, and anchorage criteria

CSA s EN Standards for Equipment (Rope & Harnesses)

  • Must comply with current CSA Z259-series standards:
    • 1 (Body belts C saddles)
    • 10 (Full harnesses)
    • 11 (Energy absorbers C lanyards)
    • 12 (Connecting components)
  • Also, CEN standards: EN 567, EN 353-2, EN 341

Written Safe-Work Plan – Section 22.G s 22.11 (applies more broadly)

  • Written rope-access safe-work plan required whenever there’s a risk of fall:
    • Must include hazard assessment, system procedures, rescue plan, PPE, accessibility C rigging plan, personnel list
  • All equipment must adhere to CSA or equivalent

Rescue & Supervision

  • Ontario “Access s Fall Protection in Window Cleaning” Guideline (applies to rope-access):
    • Supervisors must be certified and present on-site during rope-access activities
    • Employers must have written emergency/rescue procedures specific to the site, covering electrical hazards, weather, etc.

Summary Table

Requirement Category

Regulation / Guideline

Worker Training

O. Reg 213/91 s. 138–138.1, Ministry Notification (7.1)

Competent

Installer/Inspector

O. Reg 213/91 s. 138.1

Site/Equipment Planning

s. 141 (roof plans), 141.5 (work C rescue plans)

Fall Protection

s. 148, CSA/EN equipment standards

Safe-Work Plans

s. 22.9 C 22.11

Rescue C Supervision

Technical C MOL window-cleaning guideline

Ministry Notification

s. 7.1 before equipment use

Additional Resources

  • IHSA Suspended Access Equipment – outlines training, planning, equipment requirements, and documentation
  • CSA Z25G-series s CEN standards – govern PPE and rope/access equipment
  • “Technical Guideline for Suspended Access Equipment” – professional-engineer design, drawing, and anchorage standards

3. Key Regulations under O. Reg. Regulation 85G: WINDOW CLEANING (R.R.O. 1GG0)

Regulation 859, combined with OHSA, spells out a robust safety framework for window cleaning at heights (3 m+). Mandatory elements include registration, notification, signage, proper access, fall arrest systems, scaffold anchorage, inspections, maintenance, training, supervision, and record-keeping.

Special note: Rope access is allowed, provided it meets Reg 859 requirements and OHSA duties, including competent supervision, approved fall-arrest systems, and industry- standard training/certification (e.g. IRATA/SPRAT)

Scope & Definitions (s. 1–2)

  • Applies when a worker may fall 3 m or more
  • Defines “window cleaning” and related terms

2. Alternative Methods (s. 3):

  • Permits deviation from prescriptive rules if protection is equal or greater

3. Registration (s. 4):

  • Window-cleaning businesses must register with the Ministry within 30 days

4. Notification (s. 7(1)):

  • Employers/contractors must phone the nearest MOL office before starting cleaning with suspended scaffolds, boatswain’s chairs, or similar equipment

5. Public Protection (s. 12):

  • Post “danger – work overhead” signs where feasible

6. Worker Protection (s. 13):

  • Use barriers/warning signs to protect workers from traffic disturbing their support or lifeline

7. Access (s. 14):

  • Access/egress must be via stable means (stairs, ladder), or direct from roof/ground for suspended systems

8. Equipment Handling (s. 15–16):

  • Containers for hazardous substances must be suitable, labeled
  • Materials must be moved safely

9. Ladders (s. 17):

  • Ladders must be structurally sound, stable, with slip-resistant feet; size limits enforced

10. No Loose Objects (s. 18):

  • Prohibits standing on barrels, boxes, —strictly enforced

11. No Improvised Platforms (s. 1G):

  • Forbids platforms on forklifts/front-end loaders for cleaning

12. Guardrails (s. 20):

  • Guardrails must include top/intermediate rail + toe board; top rail height 910 mm–1.07 m

13. Scaffolds s Chairs (s. 21–31):

  • Erection/alteration/dismantling supervised by a competent person (s. 21)
  • Scaffolds to meet load, materials, footing, structural, and guardrail requirements (s. 22–31).

14. Anchor/Sketch Requirements (s. 3G–43):

  • Building owners must prepare and provide engineer-signed roof-anchorage sketches, showing anchor locations and safe working loads
  • Anchors and permanently installed scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before first use, annually, when defects are noted, logs

15. Inspection s Log (s. 41–43):

  • Inspection logs must list date, inspector name/signature, modifications/repairs

16. Fall Arrest (s. 10, s. 27):

  • Requires properly secured/arranged fall-arrest system; prohibits multi-user on a single lifeline.
  • Primary line must include a manufacturer-approved descent control device—not a simple triple hitch.

OSHA Duties Applicable to Rope Access & Window Cleaning

  • Employer Duties (OHSA 25):
    • Provide/maintain suitable equipment and materials
    • Ensure infrastructure supports imposed loads (s. 25(1)(e))
    • Provide information, instruction, supervision (s. 25(2)(a)) and take every reasonable precaution (s. 25(2)(h))
  • Competent Supervision (OHSA s. 25(2)(c)):
    • Daily site visits required by a competent supervisor when using single-point or rope systems
  • Technical Standards Endorsement:
    • Employers should comply with IRATA or SPRAT rope-access standards

 

Reference Page

Canadian Standards Association (CSA). CSA ZS1-17: Health and Safety Code for Suspended Equipment Operations. CSA Group, 2017.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA). CSA Z25S Series: Fall Protection Standards. CSA Group.

Government of Ontario. Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01

Government of Ontario. O. Reg. 213/S1: Construction Projects. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/910213

Government of Ontario. Regulation 85S: Window Cleaning. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900859

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). Working at Heights Training and Rescue Planning Guidelines. Retrieved from

https://www.ontario.ca/document/working-heights-training-program-standard

Petzl. Technical Notice: Rope Access Devices and Rescue Techniques. Petzl Technical Institute. Retrieved from https://www.petzl.com

International Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA). International Code of Practice (ICOP). IRATA, latest edition.

Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT). Safe Practices for Rope Access Work. SPRAT, latest edition.

Mountaineering Council of Scotland. (2021). The Eiger North Face Rescue (1S3c) – A Historical Perspective. Alpine Safety Archives.

Knots Reference and Testing Chart

Knot

Load Retention

Source/Use Case

Figure 8 on a Bight

~75–80%

UIAA, NFPA

Alpine Butterfly

~75–80%

Rope Rescue Ops

Bowline

~60–70%

Traditional Use

Triple Bowline

~65–70%

Rescue Harness

Double Fisherman

~65–70%

Rope Joining

Prusik

Varies

Friction Hitch

Munter Hitch

~60–70%

Belay/Lowering

 

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