Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
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Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) & Rope-Access Work Plan
Project Name
Date Prepared
Client/Host
Start Date
Location
Description
Host Facility
Manager
Host Facility Operator
Finish Date
Phone
email
Phone
email
Personnel
Position
Name
Sign only after reading
Contact phone/email
Training
Current
Emerg. Form
(on location)
Prepared by
Safety
Supervisor
Technician
Technician
Technician
Technician
other
other
other
Emergency Information
EMS Phone
Police Phone
Fire/Rescue
Team Phone
Company Contact
Name & Phone
Emergency
Where and how will EMS reach the worksite?
Access to Site
Communication:
Cell Phone (Check service on site
Y
N)
Radio (Channel:
Phone (Note phone number, location, special dialing, other contacts, etc)
Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
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Work Plan
Description of
Work
Standard practices outlined in Guidelines for Rope Access Work
Rope-access
Methods
Individual
Equipment
Helmet
Eye protection
Foot protection
Gloves
Protective clothing
Reflective Clothing
Respiratory protection
Hearing Protection
Harness
Connectors
Descender (ID)
Belay Device (Gri-Gri)
2 Backup Devices
Lanyards
Pulleys
headlamp
Group
Equipment
Team
Communication
Machinery
Lock-out/tag-out
Multi-tool
other
Ropes (length and quantity)
Rigging Straps
Connectors
Visual (Hand Signals)
Edge Protection
other
Verbal (unassisted)
Radio (Note Channel)
Do machinery, valves, or gates need to be locked-out?
Machinery Locked-out/Tagged out of service
Yes
No
Hold Order visually checked by RA Supervisor
Hold Order Number _________________________
RA Supervisor ____________________________
Equipment/Tool
Management
Other...(describe... attach additional pages if necessary)
Access Zone
Describe Access Zone and method to mark and secure entry
Hazard Zone
Describe hazard zone and method to mark and secure entry and to protect public or other workers
Standard anchors outlined in Guidelines
Anchors
Rescue and
Retrieval
Methods
Rescue Kit
First Aid Kit
other
Patient Packaging
Pulleys
Rope Grabs
Connectors
Spare Equipment
Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
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Condition
Falling
Gravity-induced injury or death
Human Error
Rigging Errors
Communication
Difficulty
Loud ambient noise (traffic, machinery,
running water, wind, etc.)
Malfunctioning or dropped radios
Conditions change
Sharp/abrasive
Rope or anchor damage and/or failure
Abrasions or cuts to hands
Inadvertent contact with energized lines
Burns or electrocution from contact
Machinery
Injury from
Inadvertent operation of machinery
Injury sustained from machinery
Hazardous condition created (e.g.
release of water)
Hazards depend on tools used
Damage to rope-access or fall-protection
system
surfaces
Electrical Lines
Tools
Dropped Tools
Description of Hazards
Possible injury to personnel and public
Loss of important tools for work or
egress
Damage to structures or equipment
loose detritus
Possible injury to personnel and public
Damage to structures or equipment
Severed ropes
Rain/Wet
Conditions
Insulating qualities of wet clothing
decreases
Possible hypothermia (dangerously low
body temperature)
Wet surfaces can be slippery
Decreased friction on descent and ropegrab devices
Danger of stray current near improperly
insulated and grounded equipment
Decreased visibility
Insulating qualities of wet clothing
decreases
Possible hypothermia (dangerously low
body temperature) and frostbite
Loss of dexterity in extremities
Wet and icy surfaces are slippery
Decreased friction on descent and ropegrab devices
Danger of stray current around
improperly insulated and grounded
electrical equipment
Decreased visibility
Wet surfaces can be slippery
Potential for Drowning
or Materials
Rock fall or
Snow/Ice
Condition
Water
(working around/over
Description of Hazards
Control Measures
Always use appropriate fall-protection or rope-access
equipment when 6 feet from unprotected edge with a
fall potential of 6 feet or more
All personnel must be properly trained
Use 2-rope system when working line is primary
means of support
Use independent anchorages
Always do 4-point check: Ropes (including anchors),
Hardware, Harness, Helmet
Agree upon and use standardized communication
signals
Check communication system
Designate alternate communication system in case
conditions change or technical difficulties arise
Review hand signals (as appropriate)
Use proper edge protection and padding
Use re-direct or intermediate anchors as needed
Wear gloves and proper clothing
Examine lines that might be contacted by wind-blown
ropes
Get appropriate clearances
Follow lock-out/tag-out procedure
Get appropriate clearances
Follow lock-out/tag-out procedure
Confirm lock-out/tag-out
Follow all manufacturers instructions and keep all
protective guards in place
Separate suspension rope may be required for tools
greater than 10 kg
Clearly mark and barricade Hazard Zone
Helmets or hard hats must be worn in Hazard Zone
Keep a clean and orderly worksite
All tools and devices must be tethered or secured
Avoid working or standing below other workers
Careful scaling or clearing of slope prior to work
Loose materials or rock may need to be secured
(either temporarily or permanently)
Manage ropes carefully to avoid dislodging loose
materials
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Wear proper footwear and clothing
Waterproof rain gear should be available
Be aware of slippery conditions
Electrical equipment must be adequately grounded
and equipped with GFCIs.
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Wear proper footwear and clothing, including gloves
and hat
Waterproof rain gear should be available
Be aware of slippery conditions
Use appropriate rope access equipment for conditions
Electrical equipment must be adequately grounded
and equipped with GFCIs.
Hand warmers should be available in case of
emergency
Control Measures
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Rescue boat shall be readily available if working
directly over water, especially if descent is a viable
Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
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Condition
Falling
Gravity-induced injury or death
moving/standing
Trapped in current while tied off
(drowning hazard)
water)
Description of Hazards
Control Measures
Always use appropriate fall-protection or rope-access
equipment when 6 feet from unprotected edge with a
fall potential of 6 feet or more
All personnel must be properly trained
method of egress.
Fall protection or rope access equipment must not
allow worker to fall into water (especially moving water)
Personal flotation devices not required if proper fall
protection in place
Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
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Condition
Falling
Gravity-induced injury or death
Description of Hazards
Sun/Heat
Possible dehydration, heat exhaustion or
heat stroke
Burns from tools, equipment, and
structural steel
Cold/Freezing
Temperatures
Wind
Lightning
Dimly lit or
night work
Dust
Chemical
exposure
Confined space
entry
High-noise area
Adhesives and first-aid supplies may be
degraded by heat
Possible hypothermia, frostbite, loss of
dexterity in extremities
Decrease in efficiency, adhesives and
first-aid supplies may not function
properly due to cold, water for drinking
and work may be frozen; slippery
surfaces
Possible increased cooling or
hypothermia risk, increased dehydration
risk in dry humidity
Decrease in efficiency, hindrance to
communications between team members
Danger of unsecured equipment or
material being blown into the access zone
Difficulty communicating
Possible electrocution due to lightning
strike, loss of consciousness or life
Rope-access equipment may provide a
pathway to the operative for electrical
strikes
Sharp or protruding objects (metal, nails,
bolts, etc.) may not be visible to moving
operatives, drowsiness of employees
Difficulty in breathing, possible allergic
reaction
Possible long-term exposure hazard
Difficulty in breathing, dizziness,
unconsciousness
Chemical burns to skin, eyes, internal
organs
Work areas may contain toxic gases or
insufficient oxygen levels for work.
Space may have restricted entry/exit
making access difficult,
Permanent or temporary damage to
hearing
Difficult Communications
High-noise levels may mask warning
buzzers or other alert sounds
Possible injury or incapacitation of
personnel depending on severity of bite or
venom
Vehicular
Possible impact or crushing injury
Traffic
Bird & Animal
Possible inhalation of disease carried by
feces
Insect or animal
bites or stings
Feces
Control Measures
Always use appropriate fall-protection or rope-access
equipment when 6 feet from unprotected edge with a
fall potential of 6 feet or more
All personnel must be properly trained
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Ample water and/or electrolytes must be on hand for
workers
Schedule proper breaks and work in morning or
evening to avoid peak temperatures
Wear gloves and proper clothing to protect hands from
hot surfaces
Use and frequently re-apply adequate sunscreen
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Wear proper footwear and clothing, including gloves
and hat
Warm liquids should be available to workers
Stop work if conditions become dangerous
Wear proper footwear and clothing, including gloves
and hat
Secure loose materials at work site
Be wary of wind developing slack in ropes where they
may be blown in to areas making retrieval difficult
Stop work when lightning threatens
Provide adequate lighting: area lighting and/or headand hand-lamps
Provide spare batteries, light sources, and bulbs
Provide adequate engineering controls
Provide PPE where engineering controls not possible
or impractical
Workers must have MSDS on site for all chemicals
used in work
Proper PPE and engineering controls must be in place
Respirators must be the correct type for the exposure
Follow confined space procedures
Toxic rescue plan required and in force prior to entry
Hearing protection required, in extremely loud
environments (+120 dBA), multiple types of protection
may be necessary.
Agree on hand signals before work starts
Workers may be equipped with sound-isolating
hearing protection for radios.
Careful access into areas where spiders, snakes,
scorpions, or other creatures may reside.
Use of gloves at all times, equip first aid kit with
medical supplies appropriate for bites and stings.
Careful demarcation of access and hazard zones, Use
flags, signs, flag persons, lighting as needed
Provide high-visibility clothing for personnel
Workers may need to wear protective gloves or
respirators.
Rope-Access Work Plan and JHA
Page 6 of 5
Post-Job Debrief
Date/Time
Completed
Safety
Considerations
Anchorages Used
/ Special
Techniques
Near Miss or
Accidents
Debrief Prepared
by:
Were adequate safety measures taken to insure the safety of personnel and public? Note any
additional safety measure taken or recommended.
Describe the anchorage set-up used and any special techniques used
Describe any near misses or accidents. If none, write none. Attach additional pages if necessary.
