In May 2022, Orb Rope Access successfully completed the rigorous accreditation process to become a full member of the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA). This was a huge achievement in rope access and a fantastic reward for the team’s hard work.
What does an IRATA membership mean?
IRATA is the lead authority in industrial rope access. All of our technicians are IRATA qualified, and as an IRATA member we can give clients the peace of mind that we operate to the highest standards in the industry.
It is the expectation of IRATA that all member companies work in accordance with the IRATA Code of Practice. The focus is on protecting the reputation of the Association’s prized safety record that is unmatched in the access industry.
IRATA accreditation is internationally recognised, and as members, Orb Rope Access has the right to display the approved symbol of IRATA membership with our unique membership number.
What did we have to do to become IRATA members?
A 25 page document outlined the criteria we needed to meet to qualify. Not exactly bedtime reading.
Here is a snapshot of the areas we needed to cover:
- Quality controls, management and planning
- Management responsibilities
- Human resources and training
- Equipment and facilities
We needed to prove that Orb Rope Access has a paper trail for every job and that we were following the necessary safety standards when IRATA conducted their on-site inspection. Whilst this was already our standard practice, we needed to focus on ensuring we met the IRATA criteria to evidence our procedures.
IRATA membership was a primary goal for Orb Rope Access when we started in 2016. Following our application, we were initially awarded an IRATA membership on a probationary basis – as is standard procedure – for twelve months, before being granted full membership. Being accredited as a full IRATA member was a pivotal moment for our company!
What an IRATA membership means to Orb Rope Access and our clients
The IRATA membership validates the Orb Rope Access mandate to provide the highest standard of rope access services. We don’t take this lightly. It is extremely important to us, as a business and a team, that our clients understand that safety is paramount on every job we do, and that our standards of excellence are guaranteed.
