The Rope Access Skills Workshop 1 is an intensive 6 day long open enrollment workshop intended specifically for those who work on rope at elevation. Rope access is used around the world to support or place workers in various environments for the purpose of performing their jobs. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Bridge, dam or structural inspectors
• High scalers
• Construction personnel
• Sea platform inspection and construction
• Tower workers

The RASW-1 is a full six days in length and is taught at 4,500' in beautiful and historic Jerome, Arizona and provides basic-to-intermediate skills for the authorized rope access worker.

The RASW-1 is entry level and provides training needed for the Society of Professional Rope Access Technician (SPRAT) Level 1, 2 and 3 certifications. 

• Job site safety!
• Applicable federal and state laws on rope access
• Knotcraft for rope access work: end line, middle, hitches, bends
• Rope access rope and equipment, inspection and care
• Rope management
• Job site evaluation and rigging for safe working conditions
• Two-point contact principles (main/belay)
• Rope access equipment:
  • Descenders /ascenders
  • Connectors / carabiners / screw links
  • Fall arrest, work positioning
  • Helmets, PPE, harnesses, other...
  • Lanyards
• Beginning pulley systems
• Complete use of AZTEK kit
• Belaying (safety line) techniques and communication
  • True belays
  • Self belays
• Anchoring principles
  • Distributing
  • Multipoint
  • Fixed and focused
  • Bolts / hangers
  • Improvised and manufactures lanyards and slings
• Minimum rope access essentials:
  • Descent and descent-to-ascent
  • Ascent and ascent-to-descent
  • Knot passes (ascent and descent)
  • Passing deviations in ropes (ascent and descent)
  • Passing intermediate anchors (rebelays)
  • Rope-to-rope transfers (ascent and descent)
  • Aid climbing (horizontal)
  • Rescue of coworker who is descending and ascending
  • Negotiating the edge in ascent and descent mode
  • Parapet rescue or worker over the edge
  • Controlled lowers/raise
• Hazard analysis and risk assessment
• Communication
• Much more

Required Rope Access Equipment

Seventh day SPRAT evaluation is optional (if offered). SPRAT test fee and SPRAT Evalauator fees are NOT included in RASW-1 tuition. 
Prerequisites: You must be in good physical condition to participate in this workshop.
Get: RTR Application
Go to: Regstration Information
Find out tuition and next program: See Schedule

Engineer for Grand Coulee Dam using rope access techniques for US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION during on site Ropes That Rescue rope access program

Important rope access anchoring techniques are covered extensively. RTR's Jayne Thorne getting ready to call it a day after dam inspection

RTR lead instructor, Becky Cordova lead climbing on 730' high Forest Hill Bridge near Auburn, CA.

Reed Thorne at Hoover in 1997 installing seismic monitoring devices for USBR. Photo: Jayne Thorne

The Rope Access Skills Workshop 2 is an intensive open enrollment workshop intended specifically for those who work on rope at elevation. It goes well beyond the standard RASW-1 in scope, and is more designed for those who need additional skills involving artificial high directionals (tripods, bipods and monopods), mechanical advantage (pulley systems), advanced anchoring, and offsetting (tag lines, guiding lines, tracking lines, skate blocks, deflecting lines and two rope pendulums). There is also a session on the use of mechanical capstan winches for raising and lowerings loads.

• Ideal for those supervising others or performing themselves, rope access work in:
  • Bridge, dam or structural inspectors
  • High scalers
  • Construction personnel
  • Sea platform inspection and construction
  • Tower workers

The RASW-2 is 5 days long (five additional days above the six days in length for the RASW-1) and is taught at 4,500' in either Prescott or Jerome, Arizona and provides advanced skills for the authorized rope access worker. 

Right, RTR at the Tampa Bay SUNSET SKYWAY bridge for Florida DOT inspection 1998. Special rope access equipment was designed by RTR for this difficult inspection.

RASW 2 key points:

• See all skills from Level 1 above
• Advanced knotcraft
• Management of rope access team / Supervision
• Advanced anchoring techniques
  • Advanced bolting (drilling and placement)
  • Epoxy bolts
• Methods of first up climbing with fall protection:
  • Double lanyard
  • Advance-placed
  • Lead climbing
  Advanced physics
• Rescue options (team or solo)
• Building rescue into anchors
  • Dynamic anchors
  • Rigging plates
  • AZTEK (dynamic fixed brakes)
• Phylosophy of descending on rope versus lowering on rope
• Capstan winch options for rope access
• Advanced rescue of rope access team members
• Confined space entry via rope access
• Use of high directionals in rope access work (Arizona Vortex Multipod)
  • Monopods (gin poles)
  • Bipods (A frames and SA frames)
  • Easel A frames (tripods)
• Advanced compound and complex mechanical advantage
• SKYHOOK capstan winch raises and lowers
• Offsets for rope access:
  • Tracking lines
  • Guiding lines
  • Skate blocks
  • Deflected offsets
• Much, much more...