Explore every episode of the podcast Rope Access Tips, Tricks & Chats

This week we have a chat about the main differences between the Petzl Rig and the Skylotec Spark. 
Which one would you use?
If you would like to buy me a coffee, click the link below. 
buymeacoffee.com/rattac

This week we sit down with Andre Quinn from Just Get It Done and chat about the rope access challenge.
Where did the idea come from?
What’s it like to organise the first rope access competition in Australia?
Where is it heading?

Hi Everyone,
We are back!, we have been on a break for a while, but now we are back.
Its time to to have some more tips, tricks and chats.
Have a listen on what's been going on and what we have planned for this season.

Milena Kovatcheva is one of the 8 female instructors under the IRATA system. Milena has been working in Bulgaria and Dubai as an instructor and consultant for many IRATA companies.
you will hear the passion in her voice about training and keeping people safe in our great industry. 

We are starting a month of chats with various Ladies in rope access.
This week we chat with Leslie the face behind Women in Rope Access Facebook group, we chat about how she got into rope access and the great places she has worked. 

This week we sit down with  'Douggs' Chris Mcdougall.
Douggs got into rope access back in the mid 2000's to help fund his passion for sky diving and Base jumping.
Douggs is now a professional base jumper offering courses through his company Learn to Base Jump LTBJ for people interested in getting into the sport.
He also undertakes safety awareness talks for major building companies and other industries, on how to deal with risk.
We did have a few technical issues with this recording, but wanted to get it out to you all.
Have a listen to how you can use rope access to fund your passion.

This week is a nice little episode on how I have my harness set up and why. I chat about what I'm using at the moment and the reasons why. 
Some of my chooses may be different to your set up, but i work through the reasons to explain my thoughts.
Would be great to hear why you choose certain gear and why, let us know on our Facebook page.

This week we answer another common question we get asked, How can I get involved in IRATA training and work my way towards becoming an instructor and then an Assessor.
We work through how the process works for both, from how you get started to the final outcome.

We have been asked the questions, Let's hear Leigh's story? what has he done? where has he been? How did he go from Kent to Australia and become an Assessor and and Auditor for IRATA?
With the help of Damian Dean who normally stays away from the mic and looks after the back end of the podcast, Leigh sits down an tells his story.
Hope this answers the questions.

This week we had an opportunity to speak to Ben Eke. Ben has been working on the ropes since he was a teenager, He has ran IRATA member companies, became an IRATA Assessor, sat on the Executive Board  at IRATA and the only person to hold the role of Training Manager and IRATA head office.
 Have a listen to some stories form London's main Rope access technician and the places that he has seen.

This week we run through how to complete an IRATA logbook correctly. Don't be the Technician who is panicking on the upgrade course to get the logbook uptown date.
Listen in to make sure you are completing your logbook correctly.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about completing logbooks correctly.
Find us at Rope Access Tips Tricks And Chats on Facebook.

This week we catch up with Mark Lea, with over 20 years of experience in Rope Access, coming from a Arborist background, with Geotechnical expertise, Mark is now a Heath and Safety expert having spent years on the IRATA Health and Safety committee.
Sit back and enjoy an in-site into rope access in the UK and  other crazy destinations over the last 20 odd years.

This week following on from our 20 top tips, we have 10 top tips for supervisors.
We hop this helps keep you all safe.
Let us know on our Facebook page, what top tips you would add to the list.
if you haven't checked out 20 top tips, have a listen to episode 1.

This week we have a look at which type of karabiners we use. Are you team Ally or Steel?
why do some people say you can't use Ally karabiners in heavy industry?
That shape karabiners should you use?

In our quest to have chats with members of the 500 club, Thats individuals with an IRATA number lower than 500, we managed to line up a chat with Karl Raby. This interview was done just as Australia was closing its borders due to Covid 19 and Karl was trying to get back to his family in the UK. The sound plays up a bit in places due to the signal, we hope it doesn't ruin the experience. 
With over 30 years experience on the ropes and 35 plus years in gas and oil and ex IRATA Chairman, its well worth a listen for any rope tech.

This week we are having a chat, well maybe a bit of a rant about things we don't like in Rope Access and a a few things we do like.

Be great to hear what you think, find us on Facebook at Rope Access Tips Tricks and Chats.

This week we have a chat with Andre from Just Get It Done, we chat about the path he has traveled to get to where he is today and have a chat about the amazing software that can make any rope access company's day a lot easier, from quoting, to kit lists, SWMS, rescue plans and even sending the final invoice.

If you are keen to find out more about the product JGID are offering RATTAC friends a 14 day trial with an additional 31days, that's 45 days to get to see how the software works, and it includes training and support.

to take a look go to www.5thpoint.com.au/JGID

This week we run through the process of converting your rope access qualification to IRATA, we start with SPRAT and SOFT. its easier than you might think.

check us out at Rope Access Tips Tricks and Chats on Face book.

Time for a chat with Denis Belliveau. Denis is based in Perth, Australia. originally from Canada and one of the founders of Vertech Group.
We chat about a near death experiences that helped shape the man we see today and a funny chat about the biggest contract meeting, where someone turned up in odd shoes.

Denis has now founded Discovery Development Partners Organisation to support leaders and businesses transform their people, safety and culture.

Denis's can be found in all the normal places.

https://discoverydp.com.au/

 @thediscoverycollective.com.au

 And if you would like to her some of his music, check it out below.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OQNoAk0iu6t4DCV4UL7bD?si=AOi_VBZfS36PKmO6STeEKw

This weeks episode is all about cowstails and the knots that we use in them.
When I say cows tails, i am talking about a section of dynamic climbing rope cut into short sections.
We also have a chat about the photo i chose on this podcast and where it came from.
We also chat about IRATA safety bulletin 8.

https://irata.org/downloads/2022

This week we catch up with Dirk Dorenbos from Canada, we get to chat about his time in rope access and find out about his new edge management products, The Edge and The Vortex, and new products he has planned.

Check them out here.
https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/the-edge-rope-protector-new/
https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/the-vortex/

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This episode is all about the new descenders that have come out in the last year or so, and our thoughts on each of them.

here are some links to the products for a closer look.

Petzl ID, https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/petzl-id-s-new/
Petzl Rig, https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/petzl-rig-new/
CT Sparrow, https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/ct-sparrow-200r/
ISC D4, https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/isc-d4-descender/
Skylotec Sirius, https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/skylotec-sirius-descender/
Harken Clutch https://www.5thpoint.com.au/product/cmc-harken-industrial-clutch-descender/

It's time to get the chat bit going, this week we get to chat to Mike Knight, (no not that one, no K.I.T.T, sorry)
Mike is a highly experienced rope tech based out of USA and will share some great stories on his favourite projects and give some good advice, watch out for the B/A job that you wouldn't think needed it.
Let us know on Facebook what you think, Rope Access Tips Tricks & Chats.

This is a call to action, we want your input, IRATA has asked its members what should and shouldn't be in an IRATA assessment at all levels. We want to know what the techs on the ground think.
Let us know what you think, we will name drop on a future episode.
send us a message on Facebook, Rope Access Trip Tricks & Chats

This week we carry on with our chats about the connector that keeps us safe, Karabiners.
What's your preferred locking system Auto or Screw? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both of them?
This week we take a look at why you would choose one over the other.

In this episode we will be chatting about all of the updates that IRATA have done with the TACS document, many of these have been around for a while, but the latest version of the TACS has taken them all into the document.

In this episode we are going to chat about how assessment day can be run on an IRATA course, we get asked a lot "how does the assessment run".
Different assessors have different approaches to the day, with over 20 years of running IRATA courses all over the World, we hope to give you an in-site.

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https://www.facebook.com/RopeAccessTTAC/

Hi Folks in this episode we will be chatting about 20 top tips for rope access, what you should do before you get on those ropes.

Hi Folks, this is a quick intro into how we can what we are looking at doing with this pod cast, it's basically what it says on the can, some rope access tips, trips and some chats with some great individuals from the rope access world.

This week we look at the common pole straps and how we use them in rope access, what the difference and what do you get extra for the money.

This week we chat about the karabiners we use and do they need to be done up?
The one on your footloop? how about the one on a pulley in a hauling system?
We discuss them all and if its undone is it a discrepancy on assessment day?

So you are keen to get ahead before you turn up for your level 1 course, this week we give you some tips of things to learn and try and understand before you turn up on day one.
If you have friends who are thinking of getting into rope access, this is an episode for them.

Time to talk about the elephant in the room on every IRATA course. 
Hands up if you have ever suffered from repetitive strain injury (RSI) or occasional overuse syndrome (OOS). Yep that pain in the elbow after a long ascent, long  aid climb or the 6th time you have done the loop rescue this week.
We chat about how it happens, advice we have received off of experts of body movement to fix it and how we can stop it happening in the first place.

This week we are having a chat with Mikey Reid, from the outskirts of Aberdeen as a professional boxer and trainer, he got a tip to get a rope ticket, how will a roofers son go with 2 points?  How did that get him to Australia?

Booked in for your IRATA level 1? Or thinking of getting into rope access. This week we cover the things you can practice and look into before the course and some tips of what not to do during the week. 

Seems we still had some unanswered questions about when and how we use the Asap in a rescue situation .
If you missed the first part go have a listen only a few weeks back.
Let us know how you use the ASAP in rigging of ropes.

This week is 100 weekly episodes, thank you for coming on this journey into all things rope access.
We thought now would be a good time to chat about how we ended up on 2 ropes rather than one. 
This story might surprise you.

This week we answer one of the questions we have been asked.
Can you explain the difference between SWL, MBS and WLL.

We take a look at how it all works and explain the difference and where you might come into contact with them.

This week we chat about where the Petzl ASAP is used in hauling and lowering situation.
Are we setting ourselves up to fail an Assessment.

This week we look at an near miss where no knots in the ropes was only part of the problem.
We hope this chat highlights the posable issues and how we can all avoid them.

Stay safe

This week we look at a safety bulletin on strains while working on the ropes.
We hope this helps anyone from avoiding injury.
we look back on  some  tips from Charles Cooper back in our chat last year. check that out in Ep 61.

This week we are looking at an IRATA safety bulletin about slings slipping on an anchorage.

If you are rigging ropes around round or square structure this episode is for you. We include some great lessons learnt and how to avoid a similar situation.

This week we do some basic maths to work out how to best set up a 3-1 pulley system with some basic rope access gear.
Using an ID and karabiners is surprisingly inefficient, but how bad is it? 

The gear i use everyday has changed a bit this year.
I do a rundown on how my harness is set up. How i use a some new gear and changing the way some gear is used.
Also a bonus fast way to pass knots.

This week we chat about working on the ropes and undertaking hot works, cutting, grinding,welding. All of these tasks that introduce a new hazard to our work environment.
We chat about what we have seen used and not used on site.
As always a few tips for products that might work for you. 

This week we take a dive into some of the uses that Petzl say you can use a Grillion for.
Big question is, can you hoist on it? 
If you like what we do here you can buy me a coffee.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RATTAC

This week we chat about retrievable rigging or pull throughs. We look at the plus sides and down sides of various systems and how we could do it safer.
Let us know  your preferred system and why you like it.

This week we take a look at the Skylotec Spark, this may have answered the question I have heard a lot since the Sirius came out, ' can we get one without the panic feature?' well the Spark is exactly that.
Have a listen as we run through the features.