Level 2 Questions Flashcards
What are the three principal aims of LOLER?
1) Lifting operation planned and managed
2) equipment to be used in a safe manner.
3) equipment to be examined at regular intervals
Under LOLER what does the term “load” apply too in rope access work?
A person or object lifted or lowered
Under LOLER what type of rope access equipment do the regulations apply too?
All rope access equipment
Under LOLER who should supervise all IRATA rope access work?
IRATA Level 3
How is equipment traced to a certificate of conformity?
By an individual coding system
What information does a certificate of conformity contain?
Product description and conformity reference number
When it is used for rope access work at what interval should lifting equipment be “thoroughly examined”?
Before first use or every 6 months if this is not before
Who can undertake a thorough examination of equipment?
A competent person
What does a “fall factor” measure?
Severity of fall
What is the formula for working out fall factors?
Distance of fall + length of rope holding fall.
You and your mate fall the same distance with the same fall factor. You are attached by dynamic cows tails, but your mate is attached by tape slings. Who will hurt themselves most and why?
My mate, tape slings provide no shock absorption.
What is the highest fall factor you could have?
Fall factor 2 or over could lead to injury or fatality. Fall factor 5 could be achieved if you work clipped to handrails or guidelines on slope surfaces.
Explain the difference between kilograms and kilonewtons.
Kilogram= Mass, Kilonewton = Force
What types of harnesses may be suitable for rope access work?
EN361, 813
What type of harness should you use in a fall arrest situation?
EN361 full body harness
How would you use the work positioning rings on a harness conforming to EN358?
Lateral
By what percentage does a larks foot or choker attachment weaken a tape sling?
20-30%
Other than a weakening effect what should you be aware of when using larks footed tape slings?
Sharp edges & friction
What is the correct/ strongest way to load a karabiner?
Major axis with with screw gate fastened.
Suggest two ways of loading a karabiner than would seriously weaken it.
Across gate with gate open, side load.
What type of karabiner locking mechanism is suitable for rope access?
Double action.
Descenders conforming to EN314A such as a stop, have a max loading of 150kg. How therefore can we use them in a snatch type rescue?
Use with a friction karabiner then can be used up to 250kg
What measures must be taken when descending with a casualty using a petzl stop descender?
Additional friction and no shock loading.
Why are alloy karabiners prevented from use in some work environment such as offshore oil sector?
Contaminated rope and/or wear on stop.
What must be avoided when using “toothed” ascender devices
Spark potential
What force can be applied to a toothed ascender before it begins to damage the rope sheath?
5-6 KN
Name two types of back up device used in the rope access industry.
DUCK
ASAP
On long drops the stretch in the unweighted back up rope may render it ineffective as you nest the ground. What can you do about this?
Keep your back up as height as possible
What must you always have in the ends of your ropes?
Stopper knots
What particular care should you take when using a fixed shiny as a back-up for lowering a casualty?
Don’t hang a load on a shunt.
In what situation could you use a stop descender as a belay device?
Tight line from above
What certificates do foot loops and etriers require and why ?
None
According to the guidelines cows tails need to be able to withstand what ?
Dynamic forces
What is the maximum fall, in terms of height fallen and fall factor, that you think is acceptable in your cows tail?
Fall factor 1
How would you work out the SWL of a rope ?
10% of BL safety factor of 10
What should you do if you are issued rope access equipment with no ID markings tracing it back to its certificate of conformity ?
Not to be used - quarantine it.
What should you do if you find a cut in the sheath of your rope as you deacend?
Put an alpine in, descend and then take rope out of service.
Why are knots that isolate damaged rope, a danger if accepted in the workplace?
Limited rescue options
Why are helmets that only meet the industrial standard EN397 unsuitable for rope access works?
No chin strap installed
No side impact
What is the critical angle when rigging ropes with a “Y hang” and why?
120 degrees - because an angle greater than 120 degrees, the loads on the anchor are greater than the load on the rope.
A 100kg load is hanging below your “Y hang”. What is the loading on each of the anchors if the angle of “Y” is 160 degrees?
288KG
A 100kg loaf is hanging below your “Y hang”. What is the loading on each of the anchors if the angle of “Y” is 140 degrees?
146KG
A 100kg loaf is hanging below your “Y hang”. What is the loading on each of the anchors if the angle of “Y” is 90 degrees?
71KG
A 100kg loaf is hanging below your “Y hang”. What is the loading on each of the anchors if the angle of “Y” is 0 degrees?
50KG
What is the best way to approach lead climbing?
To follow company procedure and RAMS
Name a device that is appropriate for self life-lining
ID
What does COSHH stand for?
Control of substances hazardous to health
Who or what is COSHH designed to protect, the person, the equipment or both?
Person
What is the minimum qualification period and logged hours you require before you can progress to level 3?
One year and 1000 hours from level 2.
If you hung on the end of a 50m low stretch rope approximately how much do you think it would stretch?
5%
If you hung on the end of a 50m dynamic stretch rope approximately how much do you think it would stretch?
15%
How long do you think a “totally inert” technician (without muscular movement) could hang in a harness before medical difficulties occurred ?
Time is critical some some medics say between 10-20mins
When considering suspension trauma in casualty rescue, after safety considerations what should be the priority?
Airways.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal protective equipment
What does RIDDOR stand for?
Reporting of injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations
Which regulations require the employer to carry out risk assessments?
Management of health and safety at work regulations 1999
Which UK regulations specifically cover falls and prevention of falling?
Working at height regulations 2005
Which regulations require suitable equipment to be provided for the safe execution of work tasks and that proper training must be given?
Provision of use of work equipment regulations 1998
What pull test load is put on bolt fixings before use as rope anchor points?
6KN
In what rope manoeuvre do you need four points of contact and why?
Rope to rope transfer
In relation to your body at what height is it preferable to rig horizontal transverse lines?
Chest or shoulder - the higher the better
If retrieving rope with a “pull through”, what should you be particularly aware of.
Descend on the correct side
If you were hauling a casualty with a 2:1 mechanical advantage and you added a 3:1 to it what would the mechanical advantage now be?
6:1
If you were hauling a casualty with a 3:1 mechanical advantage and you added a 3:1 to it what would the mechanical advantage now be?
9:1
What is the major disadvantage of using a “locking ascender” type of hauling system?
It’s harder to lower
When using rope protectors is it better to attached them to the structure or to the rope?
To the structure.
Give 3 different of preventing rope from rubbing
Deviation
Rebelay
Rope protector
Generally speaking what is the SWL of rope access equipment ?
One man
What should you do if you suspect that your rope and harness has been contaminated with unknown chemicals?
Quarantine - out of service
A 100Kg load is suspended on a vertical rope, if the rope is deviated by 20 degrees what load is placed on the deviation anchor?
35kn
A 100Kg load is suspended on a vertical rope, if the rope is deviated by 60 degrees what load is placed on the deviation anchor?
100kn
A 100Kg load is suspended on a vertical rope, if the rope is deviated by 90 degrees what load is placed on the deviation anchor?
141kn
