24/10/2025
Tensioned lines are an essential tool in rope access, providing a safe means of movement and positioning where other rigging methods are not suitable or available. Despite their widespread use, no industry standard has specifically addressed their application in industrial rope access.
IRATA’s Annex T: Tensioned Lines Guidance helps bridge this gap.
Highlighting the risks associated with excessive anchor, anchor line, and equipment loading on tensioned line systems, Annex T considers:
• Applications: work positioning, work restraint, fall arrest and rescue systems.
• Risks: anchor failure, equipment failure, rope failure, and human error.
• Control Measures: double protection, appropriate planning, and comprehensive risk assessments.
• Anchors, Anchor Lines and Equipment: strength, reliability, standards, and industry testing.
• Training: competency, correct equipment use, and alignment with IRATA’s Training, Assessment and Certification Scheme (TACS).
Annex T helps technicians, supervisors, and employers to consider risks, make informed decisions, implement effective controls, and uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism in rope access.
Read the full ICOP Annex T: Tensioned Lines Guidance on the IRATA website at: https://irata.org/downloads/29565
