Industrial rope-access company Skyriders conducted in-house rope-access training at its Midrand-based training academy in March, with human resource, administration and skills development facilitator Rethabile Mofokeng noting that training targeted those who wanted to progress through the various levels of either rope access or fall-arrest training.

Skyriders also offers complete fall-arrest training, from basic to advanced levels, as well as rope-access aided rigging and bolting training. The rope-access courses cover levels one to three.

The training also includes a theoretical component.

Mofokeng explains that before students can reach level three, they have to complete 2 000 hours of practical training on the ropes to qualify for this supervisor position.

The training is fully accredited by South African work-at-height professional body, the Institute for Work at Height (IWH), she adds.

The training offered by the Skyriders Height Wise Academy is moderated by the IWH, which issues the final certificate, licence to operate and logbook to all those who complete the training successfully.

Additionally, having received numerous requests from external individuals and companies interested in rope-access training, Skyriders now offers external training at its Midrand academy, says Mofokeng.

Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn adds that the company has a responsibility, as a rope-access specialist, to ensure that the high standards determined by the IWH are maintained throughout the industry.

“Establishing our training academy has enabled us to not only ensure the competence and expertise of our technicians – it also plays a vital role in ensuring that these standards are upheld for the benefit of all.”

Meanwhile, Zinn says working at height continues to pose a major hazard in industry in general. Research conducted by Nelson Mandela University, in Port Elizabeth, indicates that the indirect costs of falling-from-height accidents are 14.2 times more than the direct costs.

Working at height is a common safety risk, from residential to heavy industrial sites. To mitigate the danger of falling-from-height incidents, all those who work at height must receive the proper accredited training, explains Zinn.