The Access Blog

When you're planning a job that involves working at height, one of the first questions is always, how do we access it safely and efficiently? The two most common answers are rope access and scaffolding, and while both get the job done, they're not interchangeable. Choosing the wrong method can cost you time, money, and unnecessary complexity. Here's a straightforward breakdown to help you make the right call. What Is Rope Access? Rope access uses a system of ropes, harnesses,

By SureAccess | Safety & Compliance | 5 min read If you've ever put a rope access scope out to tender, you've probably seen IRATA mentioned in contractor credentials. But unless you've worked closely with rope access teams, it's easy to treat it as just another acronym on a capability statement. It's worth understanding what IRATA actually is, because it's the difference between a rope access contractor who operates to an internationally verified safety standard and one w

By SureAccess | Project Delivery | 5 min read There's a model that's been standard in industrial maintenance and shutdown work for decades: hire an access contractor to get your team to the work face, then hire separate trade contractors to do the actual work. It works, technically. But it comes with a set of costs and risks that are often accepted as unavoidable when they're not. The alternative is integrated access and trade delivery, one contractor who provides access

By Chad Burgess | Compliance & Regulation | 6 min read Working at heights remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality in Australian workplaces. In Queensland, the regulatory framework around height work is clear, but in practice, compliance is more nuanced than a simple checklist. Here's what site managers, project engineers, and HSE teams need to understand. The Legal Framework Height safety in Queensland sits under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Not all rope access contractors are the same. In the resources and industrial sector, hiring the wrong one doesn't just mean a bad job, it can mean compliance failures, project delays, and genuine risk to life. If you're putting a rope access scope out to tender, here's what actually matters. 1. IRATA Certification.. Non-Negotiable The International Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) sets the global standard for rope access work. Any contractor operating in a serious indus