Photo: Sandton Sun
I had just completed my IRATA level 1 rope access technician training a few weeks before, had been lucky to find a contracting company willing to give me a chance as a fresh recruit, and now I was on team, and on site at my first gig.
Now the real learning started :)
Rope Access is Continual Problem Solving
I was the rookie of a large team sent to do a job at a hotel near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Our mission: to install Africa’s largest chandelier into the atrium of the hotel.
And, how many on our team of experienced (other than me) RAT’s do you think had installed a chandelier before?
None. Not one.
On this task – which took us about 5 weeks start to finish – our project manager had to continually liaise with the light architect about the method to pre-assemble components and then lift them into position.
Of course, as this was real-life, many snags arose and had to be addressed.
We had to position catch-nets in case of falling objects and at the ground level we had safety barriers and controllers to keep the public out of harm.
Members of the crew (often me) operated as tag-line operators to assist the lifted components to manoeuvre at the correct angles as they were raised.
All of this had to occur while guests and shoppers were coming and going.
It is a great example of the nature of the work of a rope access technician team:
a. clearly understand what needs to be done
b. figure out a method to do so (because at least something of the situation will be new)
c. ensure that safety is guaranteed for all personnel on the project, and for anyone else that is on or close to the site
d. coordinate continually with all other key project managers
e. work as a cohesive team, with clear communications
f. deliver as quickly as possible.
One thing though, which I did not appreciate at the time, this being job #1 and all, working inside a perfectly climate-controlled building with a selection of coffee shops and restaurants within 25m walk in any direction is not the norm.
Actually, it turns out that it is pretty rare ..... ;)
[here's a short time-lapse video of that project]