The minimum age of candidates is 18 years.

All candidates shall be physically fit and free from any disability or medical condition that may prevent them from working safely. They shall ensure that they have an adequate level of fitness, are physically able to perform the tasks expected in terms of strength, agility and coordination and are able to withstand the stresses of the working environment, such as heat, cold and other inclement weather.

This course is physically and mentally demanding and will not suit everyone. Ideally candidates should be in possession of an applicable full industrial medical certificate, though this is not a requirement.

As a minimum all candidates will be required to fill in a statement of medical fitness to show that they are historically free of the conditions listed below and therefore, there is no reason that would exclude you from participation in a working at height course/assessment.
Principal contra-indications to working at height include the following:

• Prescribed medication that may impair physical/mental function
• Alcohol or drug dependence
• Diabetes, high or low blood sugar
• High or low blood pressure
• Epilepsy, fits, blackouts
• Heart disease / chest pain
• Vertigo, Giddiness or difficulty with balance
• Fear of heights
• Impaired limb function
• Musculoskeletal issues e.g. back pain
• Psychiatric illness
• Sensory impairment e.g. blind, deaf

If you feel that there may be something that you are uncertain about then please contact us.

Not to acknowledge a medical problem could put yourself and others at risk.

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IRATA issued an updated version of the TACS (Training, Assessment & Certification Scheme).

A large portion of the changes are more geared towards the Training Centres and the administration of the courses. However one significant change that affects all certified rope access techs is the updated clause referring to missing logbooks:

4.3.4 Rope access Technicians who are upgrading or revalidating shall provide their logbooks to the IRATA Trainer member company prior to the start of the training course. Where rope access Technicians have lost their logbooks, they shall arrange for a replacement to be issued, completed and verified before training commences.

Due to this change any re-validating or upgrading technician (this also includes previously qualified individuals regardless of time or the fact they may not even have worked on the ropes) will have to produce a logbook on the Monday morning or be excluded from the training course.

4.13.11 If any rope access Technician loses their logbook, they shall contact IRATA immediately to arrange for a replacement. Technicians shall obtain credible references (see clause 4.13.1) for all lost logbook hours.

Where lost hours are required to move up a level, e.g. Level 1 to Level 2, the Technician shall obtain credible reference documents to verify the hours in the replacement logbook before training commences. Maintaining a scanned copy of a logbook can facilitate the process of completing a replacement logbook.

Replacement Logbooks or other certification can be ordered from the IRATA web site www.irata.org